With so much support for his father, Keith Kranepool wanted to be with his son, Ethan, at Citi Field to watch the Mets return from the road on Monday.
Franchise icon Ed Kranepool passed away last week at the age of 79.
Keith and Ethan had planned to travel from Raleigh, North Carolina, and James Madison University in Virginia, respectively, just to watch the Mets' video tribute to Ed Kranepool in person.
But when Jay Horowitz, the Mets' director of alumni relations, heard they both planned to attend, he made arrangements for the Kranepools to attend the ceremony.
Ethan Kranepool threw out the ceremonial first pitch to his father before the Mets beat the Nationals, 2-1, in the 10th inning.
Ed Kranepool, a Bronx native and graduate of James Monroe High School, played 18 seasons with the Mets and won the World Series with the team in 1969.
“This place is family to us,” Keith Kranepool said.[Ed Kranepool] He loved what he did from the time he was a kid, and I hope we all get that opportunity.”
Harrison Bader entered as an automatic runner in the bottom of the 10th and scored the winning run on a walk-off hit by Starling Marte.
Bader replaced Mark Vientos as a runner, leaving the Mets with one infielder short as the game continued into the 11th inning.
Manager Carlos Mendoza said he would have used catcher Luis Torrens at second base if the game had continued.
Torrence played in two games as the Mariners' second baseman in 2022.
Pitcher Kodai Senga is preparing to return from the disabled list next week and is scheduled to pitch in relief on Tuesday with batters coming up to bat but not swinging.
Senga is unlikely to ever fully develop, but he could be utilized as an opener of sorts or even out of the bullpen.
He is rehabbing from a left calf strain he suffered during his first start of the season on July 26.
Nolan McLean was named Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for Double-A Binghamton.
The 23-year-old McLean started for Portland and pitched six scoreless innings, allowing just two hits, walking two and striking out six.
He has started 25 games this season and has a 4-10 record with a 3.78 ERA, 116 strikeouts and 42 walks in 109 2/3 innings.
