World Series Heartbreak – Mets Blow 9th inning lead

NEW YORK — The Kansas City Royals, their bodies drenched in champagne and joyful tears in their eyes, had a simple question Sunday for everyone not wearing a uniform, and crashing their celebration.

Ok, now do you believe?

On the flip side, the Mets’ mood was more somber as they brooded over what might have been.

“You either die a hero…or live long enough to give up the tying runs”

Through eight innings, Matt Harvey had shut the relentless Royals offense down, entering the 9th with a 2-0 cushion. Citi Field was rocking, Mets Nation calling for their “Dark Knight” to come and finish what he started. Manager Terry Collins initially appeared as if he was going to lift Harvey, but changed his mind when Harvey lobbied vehemently to stay in. Harvey had been masterful, and it was an electric atmosphere that demanded the main character of the night.

But like they’ve done all year, the Royals continued to grind: working a walk and a double to chase Harvey out of the game and cut the lead to 2-1. After moving the runner to third, Salvador Perez hit a soft one-hopper to the left side that was gloved and gunned to 1st by 3rd baseman David Wright. But the Royals, true to form, took the most aggressive approach possible to the play, with Eric Hosmer charging home from third base with abandon, forcing a hurried throw home that went wide, resulting in a tie game. Fans, players, and manager alike had to feel like they were collectively punched in the gut.

The game went to extras, but the Royals bullpen, solid all year long, shut the Mets down. The game remained tied until the 12th inning, where 41 days since his last at-bat, Christian Colon came through with a hit to give the Royals a 3-2 lead. A Murphy error (another one) kept the inning alive, and the Royals tacked on 4 more to make it 7-2. A single was all the Mets could muster, and the Royals celebrated en masse.

Congrats to Kansas City. You took the Crown.