TO CLOSE

Championship player Mets Wilmer Flores in singles at 4-3 won in 10 innings against the Pirates.
Matt Ehalt, Editor, @MattEhalt

New York Mets first baseman Wilmer Flores (4) reacted after hitting a two-point single against the Pittsburgh Pirates and came in third on a mistake in the first set Citi Field.(Photo: Brad Penner, Brad Penner-USA TODAY HUI Sports)

NEW YORK – Wilmer Flores and Sandy Alderson will still be tied to the failed 2015 deal that reportedly sent Flores to the Brewers.

Flores cried on the ground after thinking that he had been traded only for the deal to be canceled, and hit a home run on the Nationals a few days later.

"We've talked a lot since that day, and he changed the way he talked about me," says Flores, "He's always been a good guy and he's good at talking to everyone."

Maybe it's appropriate that hours after the announcement that Alderson Flores offered RBI the starting point of the win in a 4-3 win in 10 innings against the Pirates who ended the Mets' seven-game losing streak. Flores now has a RBI of nine career starts, tied for the highest in franchise history with David Wright.

The game also featured the clearing banks in the eighth inning when Jeurys Familia took the shadows with a clean slide from Pirates Josh Harrison's second baseman.

"It was hard, we had a meeting and obviously it is one of us," said Flores of Alderson. "It was hard to be there, but you have to focus on the game." Sandy is one of us and we support him 100% and hope that he will get better. "

New York Mets starter Steven Matz delivers against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first round of a baseball game on Tuesday, June 26, 2018, in New York. (Photo: Julie Jacobson, AP)

King of clutch

Alderson's non-exchange with the Brewers, who would have sent Flores and Zack Wheeler in exchange for Carlos Gomez, will remain etched in their minds.

Had this deal been reached, the Mets would not have landed Yoenis Cespedes, who led them to the playoffs and ultimately to the World Series.

Flores has since established himself as a clutch player with the Mets, and he has all three kicks from a Met this season.

The Mets followed, 3-2, into seventh position before Michael Conforto hit a home run, and Flores came into play in tenth place with two goals and one setback.

Flores, who tied a single two times in the first, petted a single who just stayed just down the third baseline and scored Conforto to end the Mets skid.

His nine basic RBIs dating back to 2014 lead the majors.

"It's like we're waiting until Wilmer gets up," says Conforto.

Compensation benches

The Mets celebrated shortly after the frustration of this lost season arrived at Familia on a play that was not considered dirty.

Steven Matz threw seven innings of three balls before handing him to the bullpen, and Familia inherited a two-to-one jam at the seventh in a threesome.

In attempting to break a double play, Harrison slipped to Asdrubal Cabrera, who had to jump over the second baseman to make his throw to the first, who was late.

Familia then barked at Harrison as he came out of the field even though Cabrera made no exception to the slide, and the benches purified themselves. Cabrera grabbed Harrison in a playful way as the relievers made their entry from the outside field.

No fist was thrown.

"Maybe it was a good thing we cleaned up the benches," said Mets manager Mickey Callaway. "And showed some fighting and fire."

After the quick delay, Familia finally left the bases charged to keep the match tied, setting the stage for a moment of well-being on an otherwise sad day.

"This is not news you want to hear," Matz said. "We are all here because he believed in us."

MORE: Sandy Alderson left a mark on the Mets players for a period of eight years

MORE: Jeff Wilpon admits the frustration with the way the Mets played

POPPER: Sandy Alderson Retires as Winner Regardless of Mets Record