DETROIT -- The cruel coincidence of Saturday's 6-5 loss to the Tigers was that the Mets finally received the hit they needed with runners in scoring position.
Trailing by a run with two outs against Tigers closer Francisco Rodriguez in the ninth inning, the Mets manufactured some rare late-inning drama when Jay Bruce and Alejandro De Aza both singled, putting the tying and go-ahead runs on base. An offense so maligned all season long, particularly with runners in scoring position, gleaned a flicker of life.
Then Travis d'Arnaud rapped a single to right field and the Mets erupted in their dugout.