Livescore
Two years ago, he batted .292 in 118 games for Colorado. Last year, he didn’t even appear in a big-league game. Now, the guy who signed a minor-league deal last December just delivered yet another huge moment to keep the Mets in position for a postseason berth.
Where would they be without Jose Iglesias?
“That’s a good question, I don’t know,” manager Carlos Mendoza said with a laugh.
Iglesias, starting at shortstop in place of the injured Francisco Lindor, appeared in his 73rd game for the club since he was called up on May 31 on Monday night against the Washington Nationals. And, batting in the leadoff spot, the big moment found the 34-year-old journeyman.
Down a run in the eighth inning, Iglesias came up with two outs and a runner on third base. On the year, this would be the fifth at-bat the veteran has had in such a situation.
And, just like on all the previous occasions, he delivered: this time smacking a comebacker up the middle that Nationals reliever Derek Law could not handle allowing Tyrone Taylor to scamper home.
“He’s done it, he’s been in this league a long time. And again today. Importance of putting the ball in play. Two outs, hit a ground ball up the middle and we get an infield single and we tie the game,” Mendoza said. “The small ball, however, you wanna call it, just having the awareness of the situation will dictate [how to play] and he’s done that plenty of times.”
Iglesias, now 5-for-5 with 6 RBI with two outs and a runner on third and 11-for-23 with 12 RBI with two outs and a RISP for the Mets, said he “just tried to put a good swing” on Law’s 1-0 delivery.
“Try to put the barrel to the ball and that’s it. Not try to get too big in that situation,” he said. “… When you put the ball in play, good things happen.”
Iglesias’s hit – and the combined effort of Jose Butto, Edwin Diaz and Reed Garrett to add scoreless innings – set up Starling Marte’s walk-off single in the 10th to put the Mets a game ahead of the Atlanta Braves for the final NL wild-card spot.
“Iglesias came up and did the job and that’s what he’s been doing since he’s been here,” Marte, speaking through an interpreter, said. “He’s been bringing the energy, bringing support. And he’s bringing the consistency day-in, and day-out for us.”
Sean Manaea – who delivered yet another stellar seven innings – praised the Iglesias for his good vibes and on-field contributions.
“Clubhouse vibes, since he came in and showed us ‘OMG,’ have been fantastic,” the left-hander said. “What he’s done on the field – defensively playing any position and the wizardry that I know he’s been capable of doing and then just the clutch hitting.
“I’d say he’s instrumental in this team… he’s been doing some unbelievable things.”
Iglesias showed off that wizardry in the early goings, combining with Eddy Alvarez for a nifty force at second as they nearly turned a fantastic double-play.
“It’s unbelievable,” Manea said of the Mets’ defense. “Iggy filling in at shortstop and Eddy coming in at second base, that almost double-play that they made was one of the coolest things that I’ve ever seen on a field.
“Not having [Lindor] is definitely a loss, but those guys definitely stepped up and it’s a huge thing.”
When taken all together, Mendoza said the veteran’s defense, at-bats, energy and his involvement in the “conversations that go on behind the scenes” make Iglesias a part of “winning baseball.”
The Mets were 10 games under. 500 when Iglesias came up from Triple-A Syracuse. With the extra-inning win on Monday and his 2-for-4 day at the plate, they improved to 59-35 (.628) since.
“All around it was a great team win,” Iglesias said.
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