MLB World Series: Mets turn back time with game three win over Royals

New York Mets 9 Kansas City Royals 3 (Royals lead 2-1 in best of seven series)

(Getty Images)

The last time the New York Mets won the World Series, they began with two losses before mounting a comeback against the Boston Red Sox in game three.

The 2015 Mets side are clearly following the 1986 game plan to a tee.

The home side sent out a message from the first pitch, Noah Syndergaard hurling a 98mph fastball at Alcides Escobar’s head, causing him to dive to the ground to avoid injury. Syndergaard commented afterwards that he wanted the Royals to feel uncomfortable and, with an aggressive pitching game and record attendance at Citi Field, the atmosphere was suitably hostile.

This set the tone for a frenetic opening exchange which saw the lead swap three times in the first three innings, the first time in World Series history. The Royals opened the scoring in the first innings, Eric Hosmer’s hit allowing Ben Zobrist to run home. The Mets responded immediately when captain David Wright hit a two-man homer over left-centre field. Perez and Rios scored at the top of the second for the Royals to make it 3-2, before another two-man home run, this time from Curtis Granderson, put the Mets back in control at 4-3.

Lucas Duda added another for the Mets in the fifth, before Lagares, Flores, Uribe and Granderson all ran home to extend the lead to 9-3 by the bottom of the sixth, effectively ending the contest. It was a tough end for Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura, who was benched before the innings was over after giving up five runs in seven hits.

The Series now hangs in the balance ahead of New York’s second home fixture tonight. Just as in 1986, the Mets have lost the first game by a single run, the second by six, and then won the third by six. If history is to repeat itself once more, back the Mets by four.

Game four begins Sunday, November 1 at 00.07 GMT.