For the second straight night, Mets closer Jeurys Familia entered a game with at least one man on base. For the second straight night, he made the pitch he wanted, got the ground ball he desired.
But for the second straight night, the result was disastrous.
“I did what I was supposed to do,” said Familia, who relieved Matt Harvey in the ninth with the Mets leading by a run and a runner on second. “Things happen in baseball. It’s a crazy game. I’m just trying to move forward. Didn’t want it to happen, the run that tied the game, it scored. I didn’t want it to happen but it did. … I tried to hold the run, but baseball is crazy.”
And so with the never-say-surrender Royals rallying for two runs in the ninth to tie, the Mets were overwhelmed in the 12th inning as the Royals won Game 5 — and the World Series — 7-2 Sunday at Citi Field.
Familia got his first batter, Mike Moustakas, on a right-side grounder, with Hosmer taking third. Now Familia induced a bouncer to third by eventual Series MVP Salvador Perez. David Wright fielded and threw to first for the out. Hosmer broke on a delay and Lucas Duda’s return throw home was hurried and wide.
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“It was a ballsy play,” Duda conceded.
“I was not surprised because I know they are an aggressive team and they do that all series,” said Familia, who reflected on his season that began with him as a bridge to former closer Jenrry Mejia, twice suspended for PED violations.
“The season started I was supposed to be the set-up man, but you know what happened with Jenrry,” said Familia, who tied the Mets record with 43 saves in his first year as the full-time closer. “God gave me the opportunity, and I tried to enjoy it and did the best I could every day. I came every day hungry to learn, and I think that’s why I had so much success this year.”
But his run of success ended in the World Series. In Game 1, he allowed a game-tying homer to Alex Gordon with one out in the ninth. Familia was on the mound, although not the loser, when the Royals rallied in the eighth inning Saturday in Game 4 to grab a 3-1 series lead aided by Daniel Murphy’s error. On Sunday, he suffered his second straight blown save, third of the series.
“I understand anything can happen,” Familia said, absolving teammates of their less than spectacular defense.
What Familia wanted to dwell on was where he was — in a World Series. When it ended, the Mets went around the room embracing one another.
“It is something special,” said Familia, who pitched two innings without allowing a hit. “I never think in my life I would play in the World Series.
“Nobody thought we would be here.”