The New York Mets are thrilled right now, with owner Steve Cohen going through all kinds of emotions. The team grabbed a playoff spot, which is surprising since many expected a tough season after they sold off most of their stars in 2023. But fast forward to the eighth inning on Monday afternoon – the Mets experienced huge highs and lows in just about 50 minutes, securing their spot in Milwaukee for October baseball by beating the Braves, 8-7.

But calling it just a ‘win’ feels like an understatement for the drama that unfolded over those three hours. And the timing? It couldn’t be any better. The victory came just a day after the regular season was supposed to wrap up, putting the Mets in a nail-biting situation, where one win meant they were in, while two losses meant heartbreak. This tension was definitely seen in their gameplay, winning Steve’s heart.

How did the Mets vs Braves game go for Steve Cohen?

After a rough 2023 season and a tough fight to the 2024 playoffs, the Mets stepped up under serious pressure to reclaim their lead. It all came down to a wild six-run top of the eighth inning, where the team delivered clutch at-bat after clutch at-bat. Now, all they needed was arguably a big homer to clinch the victory, which soon came from Francisco Lindor. He stepped up and launched a two-run homer that not only gave the Mets the runs they needed for their 89th victory but was a franchise-best too.

This was no ordinary homer—it’s the kind of moment that takes you back to the greatest moments in Mets history, right alongside Todd Pratt’s iconic walk-off against the Diamondbacks and Ray Knight’s heroics in the 1986 World Series. Brandon Nimmo even dubbed it “an exclamation point on Francisco’s season,” But Lindor’s heroics didn’t wrap up the drama; Edwin Díaz had his own eighth-inning struggle. He failed to cover first base and letting four runs slip through his fingers, flipping the scoreboard to a 7-6 Atlanta lead.

In the end, the Mets pulled off an iconic win; Team owner Steve Cohen was right there to greet his players on the top step of the dugout after the final out. Steve’s words added a special touch to an already unforgettable day, with him saying, “I was in tears in the eighth inning when we went ahead.” So, the true hero emerged out to be the eighth inning and Lindor for sure. And just like Cohen, the players were over the moon; they had every reason to be.

The Mets reacted to their win with

Francisco Lindor is living perhaps the best Mets individual position player season ever. He called the Monday game “pretty wild”, but his heroic home run is the star right now. How does he feel about that? Lindor said for the emotional swing, “It felt like the whole week the emotions have gone like that. It was a great ballgame”. But just like a true sportsman, he appreciated the Braves, who also give their 100 percent, and it was a neck-and-neck game for sure.

The home run was also responsible for inspiring the other players in the lineup after him. Mets’ star pitcher Diaz felt the same: “When I saw Lindor hit the homer, I said, ‘I have to go out and fight for the team.’” Even though Diaz also claimed that he was tired before, the team love ignited in him to work off. Plus, after recording the final out, with the tying run at second base, Diaz started the celebration early by spiking his glove to begin the celebration. After ending the 2023 season with 75-87, the aggression to get into the playoffs was real. And of course, they want more.

Now, the team can have some time off to celebrate this win as they prepare for the next series; which isn’t far, though. The Mets will open the best-of-three NL Wild Card Series on Tuesday against the Brewers in Milwaukee. The Braves won 3-0 in the nightcap of the doubleheader to claim the other remaining wild-card berth and will face the Padres. Baseball’s favorite time of the year is upon us, and with the Mets clinching the berth grandly, now, the hopes are high for their future.