SI

Mets' Jesse Winker Had One of the Best Celebrations of MLB Season After Walk-Off HR

Patrick Andres

Aug 14, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets left fielder Jesse Winker (3) celebrates in the dugout with his teammates after scoring in the second inning against the Oakland Athletics at Citi Field.
Aug 14, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets left fielder Jesse Winker (3) celebrates in the dugout with his teammates after scoring in the second inning against the Oakland Athletics at Citi Field. / Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
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When New York Mets pinch-hitter Jesse Winker stepped to the plate in the ninth inning of a 3–3 game Wednesday in Queens, he was a man badly in need of a home run.

Winker had hit well enough (.275) since coming over via trade on July 28, but hadn't been able to find the modest power stroke he had with the Washington Nationals—for whom he hit 11 home runs in 101 games.

Consider that stroke found. On a 3-2 four-seam fastball from pitcher Seranthony Dominguez, Winker crushed a 417-foot home run to center field that handed the Mets a 4–3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.

Making the home run even sweeter was Winker's visceral celebration—which saw him face the dugout, fist-pump, and hurl his helmet to the ground.

New York, in a dogfight for National League playoff positioning, sits two games behind the Atlanta Braves for the final wild-card spot in the Senior Circuit.

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Patrick Andres
PATRICK ANDRES

Patrick Andres is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He joined SI in December 2022, having worked for The Blade, Athlon Sports, Fear the Sword and Diamond Digest. Andres has covered everything from zero-attendance Big Ten basketball to a seven-overtime college football game. He is a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism with a double major in history .

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