Winning feels damn good for the players and the fans

by Tim Reilly May 20, 2018

Saturday night’s win gave the Mets back-to-back victories for the first time since their nine-game winning streak ended on April 13. That’s right, it has been over a month since the New York Mets won consecutive games. Are they on the cusp of a winning streak?!?

To me, the photo below of those three perfectly encapsulates Saturday’s win, and what it meant to the team.

To think I almost forgot what winning looked like…

Wilmer Flores, Michael Conforto and Brandon Nimmo combined to go 4-for-11 with three RBI and two runs scored in the Mets’ 5-4 win. Conforto put the Mets on the board with an early two-run home run. In the ninth, Nimmo set the table with a leadoff double and Flores would drive him in for the game-winning run with a sacrifice fly. Not a bad night for the trio. Not bad at all.

It’s been a rough five-week stretch, full of losses and injuries. That must’ve enhanced the feeling after Saturday’s win. You just don’t see that kind of happiness on player’s faces after a typical win in May otherwise. My best guess in Conforto had a sense of relief when he hoisted Flores in the air. Winning back-to-back games was long overdue and that picture tells me it was something weighing on the player’s minds.

I can’t stop looking at that photo. I get a Nimmo-like smile myself with each glance I take at it. Winning feels damn good for the players and the fans.