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Mets stunned again after Ender Inciarte's game-ending homer robbery

Mark Townsend
Yahoo Sports Contributor


September baseball is officially lit.

With critical series taking place from coast-to-coast in both leagues, the action has seemingly reached playoff intensity already. That was especially true Wednesday night in New York, where the wild-card hopeful New York Mets were hoping to avoid being swept by the last-place and eliminated Atlanta Braves.

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Spoiler alert: The Atlanta Braves have embraced the role of spoiler.

Not only did the Braves put a significant dent in the playoff hopes by winning again 4-3, it was the manner in which they completed the sweep. They threatened to crush the Mets collective souls thanks to Ender Inciarte’s game-ending and game-saving robbery of Yoenis Cespedes’ potential walk-off home run.

Even if it didn’t leave the yard, it was going to win the game if it got down because there were two outs and the runners were moving. As it was, the Mets were left absolutely stunned by one of the very best and most important defensive plays of the entire season.

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman celebrates while Yoenis Cespedes is left stunned by Enider Inciarte's game-saving catch. (AP)
Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman celebrates while Yoenis Cespedes is left stunned by Enider Inciarte’s game-saving catch. (AP)

Think of the ramifications that catch could have. In the immediate future, it clears the Washington Nationals path to the NL West, as their win coupled with New York’s loss lowered their magic number to two games.

In the wild card race, New York had an opportunity to move back ahead of St. Louis and San Francisco in the standings, if only temporarily in the latter scenario. Instead, they’re likely to finish the night still stuck in a three-way tie.

It just shows that in a race this tightly contested, every play of every game matters. On this night, it was Ender Inciarte making the biggest play. Eleven days from now, when the regular season ends, it could be that play that decides the fate of up to three teams fighting for a wild card spot and ultimately helps set the tone for the entire postseason.

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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at bigleaguestew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!