NEW YORK -- Like so many games in this season of bountiful home runs, it appeared a home run would decide Wednesday's clash between playoff contenders at Citi Field.
Carlos Santana, the veteran first baseman who has been Cleveland's best hitter all season, slugged his 30th home run in the top of the 10th inning, drilling a Luis Avilan changeup into the left-field seats to give the Indians a 3-2 lead over the Mets.
A few minutes later, Santana would be involved in the key play of the game -- one small play that gets to the heart of the ongoing, oftentimes stormy debate about the barrage of home runs and strikeouts and the declining amount of action aside from all those home runs and strikeouts.