Mets beat Orioles on another fielder’s choice RBI by Patrick Mazeika

NEW YORK — The never-say-die Mets were alive and well for their fourth walk-off victory and sixth come-from-behind win of the season on Tuesday night.

Dominic Smith delivered the game-tying punch in the ninth inning, an RBI single to center that scored Kevin Pillar from second, and backup catcher Patrick Mazeika walked it off for the second time in five days in the Mets’ 3-2 win over the Orioles. Mazeika hit a grounder to first base and the throw home was late as the speedy Jonathan Villar swiped his hand across the plate for the game-winning run.

The Mets extended their six-game winning streak and improved to 17-13 as Mazeika, once again, was mobbed by his teammates at first base. Once again, his shirt was torn off in celebration.

Sure, there was a baseball game being played on Tuesday night. But the managers in each dugout might as well have been playing chess.

Marcus Stroman and John Means took a scoreless game into the seventh inning in a classic pitcher’s duel to open the two-game series. Stroman was spectacular, inducing ground balls and sat 13 of his last 14 batters down through six innings. Means, coming off a no-hitter against the Mariners, retired eight Mets in a row at one point and kept them off the board.

Stroman didn’t get the chance to leave it all on the field. He started the seventh allowing back-to-back no-out singles with a sacrifice bunt moving both runners into scoring position. Luis Rojas astutely had Stroman intentionally walk his fourth batter of the inning to force Orioles manager Brandon Hyde’s hand. Hyde decided not to let Means hit with the bases loaded and took him out of the game for pinch-hitter Pat Valaika. Only a moment later, Rojas took the ball from his starter, who was pitching a scoreless game.

Stroman was outraged. He spent some time on the mound trying to convince Rojas he should stay in and face DJ Stewart. Despite his pleading, Rojas stood firm. Stroman walked off the hill shaking his head before yelling, pacing and kicking the wall in the dugout.

Rojas gave the ball to Aaron Loup with the bases loaded and one out. Loup allowed just one run on a sacrifice fly to right field. The inning ended with minimal damage and Stroman came out of the dugout to greet Loup and catcher James McCann.

The Mets suffered multiple injuries in their 30th game of the season. Jeff McNeil, who singled in the first inning, ripped another single in the third that he tried converting into a double. He rounded first base and suddenly stopped running for the out at first. The Mets later announced he was dealing with “body cramps.”

Fearless center fielder Albert Almora chased down a deep fly ball to start the eighth inning. As it so often does, the ball found its way into Almora’s glove before he crashed face-first into the wall and the ball fell out as Austin Hays logged a triple off Trevor May. Almora lay face-down on the warning track for several minutes as a trainer and Rojas spoke to him. Finally, he stood up and walked off the field on his power to underline what had been a terrifying moment.