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Mets' Christopher Morel provides spark in win over Marlins: 'We don’t win that game without him'
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- Mets' Christopher Morel provides spark in win over Marlins: 'We don’t win that game without him'
Wednesday's game against the Marlins was a back-and-forth, topsy-turvy contest that saw the Mets blow a big lead, grab a big lead again and hold on for the 15-14 win.
But if you ask interim manager Andy Green, the Mets don't win that contest -- and complete the three-game sweep -- without Christopher Morel . And it's hard to argue.
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After Brett Baty got the start at first base, he had to exit the game with knee pain in the second inning. Morel came in and provided an offensive spark, going 3-for-4 with three RBI.
When he pinch-ran for Baty, he scored from first on a Luis Torrens double to put the Mets up 4-0. Then after the six-run second inning, Morel blasted his first homer as a Met -- a two-run shot -- to give New York a commanding 8-0 lead.
Then, after the Marlins tied it at 8-8 and A.J. Ewingbroke the tie with an RBI single in the seventh, Morel followed with an RBI single of his own.
"The hardest part was the leap, first to home straight off the bench, that he didn't pop two hamstrings right there was a minor miracle in itself," Green said sarcastically after the win. "Then he pops a homer the next time, then a double and single. You're looking up and he has a shot at the cycle after coming off the bench. That stuff doesn't happen.
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"Credit to him. We don't win that baseball game without him coming in and playing like that."
Morel began the season with the Marlins after spending the first four years of his career with the Cubs and Rays . The Marlins DFA'd Morel, and the 27-year-old signed a minor league contract with the Mets in early July and was recalled a little over a month later.
"You need to be ready for whatever the team needs. I was prepared for when the team needed me," Morel told SNY's Steve Gelbs on the field after the game.
Since his call-up, Morel has provided an offensive spark. In 10 games, he has slashed .300/.364/.500 with an OPS of .864.
With Baty's status unknown, Morel could see some more playing time down the stretch. If Wednesday's game is any indicator, he'll be ready for when the Mets need him.
