Jesse Winker led off the ninth inning with a pinch-hit, walk-off homer Wednesday afternoon for the New York Mets, who beat the visiting Baltimore Orioles 4-3 in the rubber game of a three-game interleague series.
Winker, who had just two extra-base hits in 51 at-bats since being acquired from the Washington Nationals on July 28, homered to left on a 3-2 pitch for the Mets’ second walk-off homer of the series against Seranthony Dominguez (3-4). Francisco Alvarez’s solo shot off Dominguez gave New York a 4-3 win Monday night.
As the ball cleared the fence Wednesday, Winker stopped a few feet short of first base, pumped his fist at the Mets’ dugout, spiked his helmet and ditched his arm guard before resuming his trot.
Edwin Diaz (5-1) threw a perfect top of the ninth.
Francisco Lindor and Mark Vientos were each 2-for-4 with a solo homer for the Mets, who opened play Wednesday 2 1/2 games behind the Atlanta Braves in the race for the third NL wild-card berth.
J.D. Martinez, playing on his 37th birthday, hit into a run-scoring fielder’s choice as New York finished 5-4 on a nine-game homestand. The Mets embark Thursday on a nine-game, 10-day road trip.
Austin Slater hit a two-run homer while Adley Rutschman lofted a sacrifice fly for the Orioles, who entered Wednesday in first place in the American League East, a half-game ahead of the New York Yankees. Colton Cowser and Gunnar Henderson had Baltimore’s other hits.
Mets starter Sean Manaea allowed three runs on three hits and no walks while striking out nine over seven-plus innings. Manaea retired the first 17 batters he faced on 73 pitches before plunking Jackson Holliday with two out in the top of the sixth inning. Slater homered to right on the next pitch.
The Orioles’ Cole Irvin, who was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk prior to the game to start in place of the injured Zach Eflin, gave up two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out two over 4 1/3 innings.