Lucas Duda was too sore to play Saturday. So James Loney started and hit the two-run homer that put the Mets ahead for good in the sixth inning.
It was the decisive blow in clinching a wild-card berth for the Mets.
And it was symbolic of what is becoming one of the most gratifying Mets seasons in their history.
For last year might not have been a cakewalk to a division title, but with four young elite starters performing at a high level and the Nationals tanking, the Mets were in control by late August and playing a lot of stress-free baseball in September en route to a division title.