The Mets’ thrilling ninth-inning comeback against the Braves on May 12, 2024, was ignited by Jeff McNeil’s strategic bunt. McNeil, who had been struggling at the plate and had a poor career record against Atlanta’s A.J. Minter, decided to change his approach. After taking a big swing in an attempt to drive the ball into the gap, McNeil opted for a drag bunt on the next pitch, successfully placing it on the right side of the mound where second baseman Ozzie Albies had no chance of making a play.
Manager Carlos Mendoza recognized the significance of McNeil’s bunt, praising his decision to bunt left-on-left in such a crucial moment. Tomas Nido then executed another bunt, advancing McNeil to second base. Finally, Brandon Nimmo, who had been dealing with intercostal irritation and began the game on the bench, stepped up and hit a game-winning two-run homer, securing a 4-3 victory for the Mets and preventing an Atlanta sweep.
McNeil revealed that he had been waiting for the right opportunity to lay down a bunt throughout the series, as he noticed that Atlanta’s defense was vulnerable to that play. He wanted to ensure that he didn’t waste it when the team was up or down by a significant margin. Additionally, his recent struggles at the plate and his history of limited success against Minter influenced his decision to pull out the bunt from his repertoire.
The Mets’ rally was further aided by the fact that after Nido’s bunt, the top of the lineup was due to bat. Despite Starling Marte’s recent struggles, Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso had been performing well, each contributing two hits in Sunday’s game.
Nimmo’s dramatic home run may serve as the turning point for the Mets’ season, propelling them in the right direction once again. However, it was McNeil’s strategic bunt that set the stage for the comeback and played a crucial role in the team’s victory.
