Conforto Game Winner Caps Off Incredible Victory

METS 7 - NATIONALS 6 

If the Mets make the playoffs in 2019, this game will be the reason why.

When Mickey Callaway left Marcus Stroman in to start the seventh inning at 102 pitches, only to walk Tre Turner, it looked like it would be the mistake that would haunt the Mets for the entire night. Shortly after that walk, Anthony Rendon somehow got enough of a Justin Wilson fastball to plant it over the left field wall to give the Washington Nationals a 5-3 lead in the seventh inning.

It looked that lead would stand up as we slowly moved into the ninth inning. Callaway's mistake loomed large. You could almost see the press conference now before it happens.

Then a miracle happened. Why should we be surprised?

In a season that many had written off before the Fourth of July, the Mets stormed back and pulled out one of the greatest wins in franchise history. A moment that will be remembered for years and generations to come. You know that kind of moment when you see it. Whether it be Mike Piazza's homer to cap-off a 10-run eighth inning against Atlanta in 2000, or Carlos Beltran's homer against the Phillies in the 16th inning in 2006. There are moments in a season that stand out in a fans memory for years to come.

If the Mets make the playoffs in 2019, we will trace it back to this unlikely win in the midst of an unlikely second half surge.

With Sean Doolittle looking to notch the save for the Nationals, J.D. Davis got the rally started with a lazy dribbler down the left field line that skated past the third base bag like a hockey puck on ice. It wasn't hit hard, but it was enough. Hey, they got someone on base.

Then Wilson Ramos stuck his bat head out in front of a Doolittle pitch and smacked it into center field for a base hit, moving Davis over to third. With none out, the Mets had the tying run coming up in Todd Fraizer.

After taking ball one, Fraizer swung wildly and missed on a high fastball to even the count at 1-1. The thought for Mets fans was simple, "don't swing at a horrible pitch again, please."

He didn't. On 2-1, Fraizer took a fastball that hung lower in the zone and destroyed it, sending it right to the foul pole in left field as 40,000 delirious Mets fans jumped up and down in jubilation.

The comeback was on.  As one Twitter user posted, Fraizer hit one all the way to Toms River, New Jersey with that swing, tying the game at six, giving the Mets renewed life.

With momentum firmly on their side, former San Francisco Giants second baseman Joe Panik delivered a single to keep the train moving. After Juan Lagares reached on a fielder's choice, Amed Rosario singled to put two runners aboard for Michael Conforto. Conforto who has been unconscious in the second half of the season, launched the fifth pitch he saw from Doolittle over the head of Adam Eaton for the game winning RBI single.

The walk-off single was the first walk-off winner for Conforto who had his jersey and undershirt torn apart by his teammates in an insane mob at second base, before being doused with water by Jacob deGrom.  In addition the Mets entered the ninth inning 0-44 in games where they trailed by three runs or more after seven innings. You can make it 1-44 now.

The Mets (60-56) arena in a tie for the second wild card with the Milwaukee Brewers. They trail the Nationals by only 1.5 games for the top wild card slot. There is something magical and inspiring about this team. They never give up, and never say never. Believe? You better.