Mets, Dodgers gave us a potential NLCS preview. Brandon Nimmo made it unforgettable

By Jake Mintz
FOX Sports MLB Writer

For about three seconds, Citi Field held its breath.

Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner — a man who revived a dormant profession and made thousands and thousands by getting his barrel out in entrance — received his barrel out in entrance of a 100 mile-per-hour heater from Jacob deGrom. The ball rocketed off Turner’s bat to deep heart discipline beneath a haze of nervous silence from 41,799 Mets followers.

Almost instantaneously, the gang turned its consideration to Mets heart fielder Brandon Nimmo, who at one level in his profession was thought of a substandard outfield defender. Nimmo raced backwards, by no means breaking stride in the direction of the wall in a completely straight line, as if he knew the precise spot Turner’s blast would land. 

“The ball was hit on a line,” Nimmo recounted postgame. “So I did not have time to look again on the wall.

His eyes transfixed on the baseball, Nimmo launched himself skyward upon reaching the warning observe, crashing his physique full-blast into the padded wall whereas concurrently lunging his leather-based over the sting of the fence. Somehow, someway, the ball landed safely in his outstretched glove, a game-tying residence run that all of a sudden was an out. 

Nimmo trampolined off the wall, pumping his fist in wild celebration. Citi Field erupted like a livid volcano.

The catch of the yr.

Brandon Nimmo reaches up and robs Justin Turner of a residence run to protect Mets’ 2-1 lead

The New York Mets maintained a 2-1 lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers after Brandon Nimmo reaches up and robs Justin Turner of a residence run.

“I’ve to begin calming down as a result of I’ve to sleep in some unspecified time in the future tonight.” Nimmo half-joked post-game, “But yeah, I’m nonetheless actually ecstatic about it.”

Nimmo’s miraculous snag was the spotlight of a actually unforgettable night time in Queens. After Los Angeles took Game 1 of the three sport set on Tuesday night time, the Mets bounced again on Wednesday in entrance of a offered out crowd, downing the Dodgers 2-to-1.

It had all of the makings of a memorable-regular season affair, the kind of sport that has reporters asking about “playoff environment” in postgame interviews. A dominant Jacob deGrom carving up the juggernaut Dodgers lineup and their comically good 90-38 file? Check. A potential playoff preview between the 2 greatest groups within the National League on a stunning late August night? Check. Timmy Trumpet, creator of the Edwin Díaz walk-out banger, in the home to play New York’s nearer out to the mound earlier than Díaz shut the door for his twenty ninth save? 

What a bizarre sentence, however sure that too.

Mets’ Edwin Diaz enters the sport to a reside rendition of ‘Narco,’ carried out by Timmy Trumpet

New York Mets’ nearer Edwin Diaz enters the sport to a reside rendition of ‘Narco,’ carried out by Timmy Trumpet.

“That positively had a playoff really feel to it.” Nimmo mentioned after the sport, hitting the cliché tougher than he hit the centerfield wall.

The Mets struck first within the backside of the third towards Dodgers starter Tyler Anderson on a two-run blast by Starling Marte. Anderson has been a revelation all season lengthy, a former journeyman thriving in his first season with LA on a highwire act, dominating regardless of middling fastball velocity. But his herky-jerky deception was no match for Marte, who blasted a 1-0 pitch over the fence in proper heart for a go-ahead blast.

Anderson settled in, however Jacob deGrom, totally weaponized and at his terrifying greatest, lower via LA’s lineup like microwaved margarine. The two-time Cy Young restricted the league leaders to only one run in his first seven-inning efficiency of the yr. His solely blemish got here courtesy of that unstoppable baseballing dynamo, Mookie Betts, who capitalized on a uncommon deGrom mistake to lace a hanging slider deep and gone to proper discipline for a solo shot within the sixth.

But for about three seconds within the prime of the seventh inning, it appeared as if deGrom’s dominance could be for naught. Then Brandon Nimmo introduced down the home.

Mets skipper Buck Showalter, who has very a lot seen some issues, referred to as it probably the greatest catches he might keep in mind. The sometimes stoic deGrom appeared downright flabbergasted on the mound that his centerfielder had reeled the ball in and was exceedingly complimentary of his teammate after the sport.

Even Nimmo, probably the most mild-mannered and team-oriented Mets, allowed himself a small pat on the again within the postgame scrum. When requested the place that seize ranked in his private assortment, Nimmo admitted that it was “in all probability primary.” 

But on his locker shelf, already proudly displayed, was a baseball from a earlier catch, a fantastic working seize towards the Marlins in July. Inscribed on that ball, a token from Mets coach Wayne Kirby, are the phrases “greatest catch of 2022” and “13% catch chance.” That catch was good, however pales compared to what Nimmo did on Tuesday night time. It looks as if a change of ornament is so as.

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It’s comprehensible that Nimmo would take such nice satisfaction in his defensive achievements. Back in 2020, Statcast rated him as a ninth percentile outfield defender by Outs Above Average. But via an enchancment in his dash pace and route working, Nimmo has taken a big step ahead in 2022, shifting all the way in which as much as 92nd percentile.

Nimmo’s step ahead defensively has been observed by his teammates — deGrom mentioned as a lot publish sport — and has been one in all many components in New York’s surge towards October. The Mets’ capacity to face toe-to-toe with the consensus Best Team in Baseball — a one-run loss in Game 1, a one-run win in Game 2 — must be galvanizing. In any given sport, this group actually can beat anybody, even the mighty Dodgers.

Los Angeles continues to be the higher ballclub, the extra possible outfit to hoist silverware come autumn. The true assessments will come later; the Braves are nonetheless simply three again within the division, the Cardinals look harmful too, however these are tomorrow issues. On this late summer time night time in Queens, one that can reside on in spotlight reels and reminiscences, all anybody cared about was a crack, a bang, a snag for the ages and 1000’s of joyous roars. 

Jake Mintz, the louder half of @CespedesBBQ, is a baseball author for FOX Sports. He’s an Orioles fan residing in New York City, and thus, he leads a lonely existence most Octobers. If he’s not watching baseball, he’s nearly actually driving his bike. Follow him on Twitter @Jake_Mintz.