NEW YORK (AP) — Brandon Nimmo saved Jacob deGrom and the New York Mets with a breathtaking catch at the center-field fence, and Edwin Díaz entered to Timmy Trumpet’s live horn at Citi Field before closing out the Los Angeles Dodgers for a scintillating 2-1 victory Wednesday night.
Starling Marte hit a two-run homer off All-Star lefty Tyler Anderson (13-3) as the Mets evened the three-game showdown between the top two teams in the National League.
Mookie Betts connected off deGrom (4-1) for his 32nd home run, but it wasn’t enough for the Dodgers in a tight pitching duel with a playoff feel that took only 2 hours, 19 minutes.
Making his sixth start of the season after returning from injury, deGrom hit 102 mph on the radar gun and struck out nine in seven innings. He allowed three hits and walked one.
The two-time Cy Young Award winner was nursing a 2-1 lead when ex-Met Justin Turner sent a drive to deep center in the seventh.
Knowing it might tie the game, deGrom turned around and went into a worried crouch on the mound. Nimmo, however, raced back and plucked the ball right off the top of the wall to rob Turner of a home run with a sensational leaping grab.
A fired-up Nimmo landed on his feet, pumped his fist hard and screamed in excitement as deGrom held both arms high. The center fielder received two standing ovations from the crowd and a warm greeting from deGrom and other teammates just outside the dugout after the inning.
When the game moved to the ninth, it was time for Trumpet and Díaz to take center stage.
The Australian-born musician was at the ballpark with trumpet in hand for the second consecutive night to accompany Díaz’s appearance with a live version of his song “Narco,” which has become wildly popular as the reliever’s entrance tune during a dominant…
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