Mets RHP Tommy Hunter threw two scoreless innings in Tuesday’s 4-3 win over the Braves, but striking out four batters wasn’t the most impressive thing he did all night.
In the top of the third inning with one out, Hunter got his first career big league hit on a single to left field. The pitcher then got to round the bases and score, thanks to Jonathan Villar‘s two-run home run.
“Highlight, hands down, best thing,” Hunter said. “I had no idea, I jumped on first like a Little Leaguer, it was crazy. That’s the coolest thing I’ve ever done in the big leagues.”
Hunter told reporters after the game that he and Braves 1B Freddie Freeman were joking around, and neither could believe he got a hit.
“I’m telling you man, it’s the coolest thing I’ve ever done,” Hunter said. “My wife sent me a video, my son was watching it. It’s definitely a highlight for me, I don’t care. I’ve had this kind of energy, I swear to you, since I’ve come off. I was rounding second base, ‘send him’, I was calling my own game.”
Despite an injury riddled roster, the Mets have won two-straight games over a division rival after getting swept by the Tampa Bay Rays.
“Finding ways most nights, people are stepping up,” Hunter said. “You can find teams who pass, a different guy step up each night each night. That’s kinda like what’s happening here. You got a plethora of players that are coming through the lineups. I haven’t seen a lot of the stuff that’s happening, this amount of injuries, guys coming up, debuts. It’s a special group. Especially if you can keep it up with people stepping up each and every night. It’s been fun since I’ve been here and I’m telling you it’s a special, special group.”
Hunter would go on to talk about always wanting to hit, and what it means to him to finally have a base knock under his belt.
“Everyday I tried to hit BP, I needed this,” Hunter said. “I needed this… I don’t know, fulfillment, I don’t know. Like I’m a real baseball player. I don’t have a clue. I don’t even think my son thinks I’m a real baseball player because I don’t get to hit. Right, every little kid thinks, and he got to see it tonight. My wife took a video of it. It was cool man. My agent was in the stands, I got family that was in the stands tonight. It was pretty cool.”