The squirrel sealed it.
Just when it appeared Edwin Díaz was going to blow another game, Jeff McNeil prevented everything from falling apart at the seams, making a game-saving throw off Kolten Wong's bloop hit to shallow right to nail pitcher Jack Flaherty, a pinch-runner, at home plate, ending the game and preserving the Mets' 8-7 win over the Cardinals.
"I knew Mike (Conforto) was in no-doubles (defense,) so I know he's playing extremely deep," McNeil said. "So I do everything I can to get out there and try to make the catch. It was a really tough catch - Mike goes in there sliding, I go in there leaping. Once the ball hit the ground I knew they were gonna send him, they were gonna try to tie the game right there.
"I kind of got lucky. I was behind the ball, so I got something on the throw, threw a strike to the plate."
Diaz blew a two-run lead Thursday before the game was suspended, stayed in that game when it resumed Friday to give up another run and took the loss. He then allowed a run in the ninth on Saturday and was on the brink of his second consecutive blown save until McNeil's throw.
Friday was especially tough for the Mets as after they lost the suspended game, Jeurys Familia entered with a one-run lead in the eighth and gave up four runs. The Mets badly needed Saturday's win.
"This team's not gonna ever give up," Mickey Callaway said. "Yesterday, that sucked. It was not fun for anybody. But they came to the field today to beat a very good team over there."