If Harrison Bader’s first Subway Series was his last Subway Series, he made it one to recollect.
The Bronxville native — who missed matchups with the Mets last yr and last month because of injuries — finally got a likelihood to play in front of a couple of charged-up, Latest York fan bases and played like the most effective players on the sector.
Bader finished with three hits, two runs scored and one nifty slide within the Yankees’ 3-1 win over the Mets, salvaging a series split in The Bronx on Wednesday.
The slick-fielding center fielder might be a free agent at season’s end, his bat and glove intriguing, but his injury history concerning.
If the Yankees let him walk, Bader, who grew up watching the rivalry up close, at the very least can say he witnessed — and starred in — one round of the battle of the boroughs.
“High energy, either side, obviously in each dugouts but in addition within the stands,” said Bader, who did a few of the whole lot during a 3-for-4 night. “I really like seeing Yankees fans yell at Mets fans and vice versa. That’s what it’s about.”
Bader’s night began with a punched double to left field within the second inning.
He moved to 3rd on a ground out and remained there until Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s bloop into shallow right field was caught by a sliding Jeff McNeil.
Once Bader saw McNeil slide, he knew he would take off for home and force McNeil to make an incredible play.
“I look up,” manager Aaron Boone said, “and Harrison’s coming hard and fast.”
McNeil did make an incredible play, and his throw beat Bader to the plate.
But Bader dove away from catcher Francisco Alvarez, sneaking his hand across the surface of the plate just before the tag.
“An incredible slide to get in there,” Boone said of Bader, who went 4-for-8 with an error (committed Tuesday) within the two-game set. “It’s an enormous play and an ideal play.”
Bader’s speed got here in handy again within the fourth, when he hit a swinging bunt down the third-base line.
He had the throw beaten, then advanced to second base when Mark Vientos threw the ball into foul territory. Bader scored on a single from Anthony Volpe.
The Yankees only managed six hits, but Bader got here through with half, his third a single through the fitting side of the infield against Jose Quintana within the sixth.
Boone said Bader, who entered the series hitting .204 with only one home run in his first 16 games in July, has been “grinding here the last week or so,” searching on the plate.
When the entire city watched, he found what he sought.
“I’m just really fortunate to be an element of all of it,” Bader said. “I’m excited to only compete against those guys. I’ve seen it from afar since I used to be a child. Just getting in the sport, it’s really special. That was fun.”
