NEW YORK _ There are certain moments that make you believe a team is destined to win. They usually contain the perfect mix of timeliness, unusualness and ridiculousness.
The Mets had one in the eighth inning Saturday against the Nationals.
Down a run, a 24-year-old bench player with a career .192 average and no home runs in the majors created a memory he, his coaches and teammates, and fans will remember for some time.
Luis Guillorme blasted a game-tying homer off Fernando Rodney, and Citi Field exploded when it landed. It sparked a rally that eventually saw J.D. Davis drive in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly.
It now feels like there is magic in the air, or as if someone is looking out for the Mets. They are playing good baseball, complete with moments you cannot explain but will cherish nonetheless.
With a 4-3 win, the Mets notched their eighth straight victory. They have won 15 of their last 16, an incredible run that has placed them amid the postseason shuffle.
Before this series, many wondered whether the Mets could beat a contender. Well, they answered the call again in front of a sellout crowd.
You began to feel the magic when the Mets went back-to-back to tie the game in the fourth inning for the second night in a row. Pete Alonso and Davis did so on Friday, then Davis and birthday boy Wilson Ramos did it against Patrick Corbin on Saturday.
With Saturday's home runs, the Mets set a franchise record with eight consecutive multi-homer games.
Corbin's outing became an example of why the Mets have been so good lately. He allowed only three hits, but the Mets made him pay for two mistakes. He exited after six strong innings, but the game was tied.
Thus, the Mets received a crack at the Washington bullpen, which held a league-worst 6.08 ERA entering Saturday. New York will take that.
In the top of the eighth, Juan Soto smashed a solo home run _ his second homer of the game, third of the series _ to put the Nationals up a run. He played villain on Saturday, his first act coming in the first inning when he launched a two-run shot off Noah Syndergaard.
If Friday were any indication, a two-run deficit that early in the game would be no issue for the Mets.
It was not.
Then Soto struck again. It felt like October all night, but for a moment, the place fell silent as he rounded the bases.
Soon, Guillorme brought back the energy with a memorable blast that began a game-winning rally.
