Brandon Nimmo’s Game-Saving Catch

Right off the bat, Carlos Mendoza thought it was a home run.

Pete Alonso, meanwhile, had a different thought: “Don’t be Homer.”

But when Joey Bart’s flyball soared toward left field in the eighth inning, Brandon Nimmo felt there was a chance.

Nimmo had faced a similar situation last month against the Cardinals, and he reflected on that experience after barely missing a catch near the wall. This time, when he leaped and caught Bart’s ball, he helped maintain the Mets’ lead, especially after two infield errors nearly derailed their chances in a tight 4-3 walk-off win against the Pirates at Citifield.

“It’s a close game,” Nimmo stated. “When they tied it, you really felt the momentum shift. Keeping it calm was crucial.”

For Nimmo, this type of catch wasn’t entirely new.

He had pulled off remarkable catches before, including a standout play against the Dodgers during the 2022 season, which has become one of his highlights.

This time, Bart’s fly had an exit velocity of 100.2 mph and an expected batting average of .400.

Had Nimmo not made the catch, the game could have turned dire for reliever Dedonier Nuñez. Instead, he made a great play, and the Mets had already scored two runs early in the game.

Even with a couple of late errors, including one from Francisco Lindor in the ninth, Nimmo’s defensive effort helped prevent further damage. The Pirates tied the game but couldn’t gain the lead.

Ultimately, Alonso’s sacrifice fly in the ninth secured the victory, which likely would have been a loss without Nimmo’s crucial catch.

“It was an incredible catch,” Alonso remarked. “It’ll probably be on ESPN tomorrow.”