In his first Subway Series, Harrison Bader made a lasting impression.
The Bronxville native, who missed previous matchups with the Mets due to injuries, finally had the opportunity to play in front of passionate New York fan bases—and he showcased his skills as one of the best players on the field.
Bader contributed three hits, scored two runs, and executed an impressive slide in the Yankees’ 3-1 win over the Mets, resulting in a series split in The Bronx on Wednesday.
As a free agent at the end of the season, Bader’s performance caught attention. However, concerns about his injury history make it uncertain if the Yankees will retain him. Regardless, Bader, who grew up closely observing this heated rivalry, can at least say he witnessed—and excelled in—one round of the battle of the boroughs.
“There was high energy on both sides, not only in the dugouts but also in the stands,” Bader remarked after an exceptional 3-for-4 night. “I love the back-and-forth between Yankees fans and Mets fans. That’s what makes this rivalry special.”
Bader’s impressive performance began with a double to left field in the second inning.
He advanced to third on a ground out and stayed there until Jeff McNeil made a diving catch on Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s shallow bloop into right field.
As soon as Bader saw McNeil slide, he seized the opportunity to sprint home, putting pressure on McNeil to make an exceptional play.
“I looked up,” commented manager Aaron Boone, “and Harrison was sprinting hard and fast toward home.”
McNeil did make an exceptional play, and his throw reached the plate before Bader. However, Bader expertly maneuvered around catcher Francisco Alvarez, sliding his hand across the outer part of the plate just before being tagged.
“That was a remarkable slide to get in there,” Boone praised Bader, who went 4-for-8 in the series with an error committed in the previous game. “It was a crucial and incredible play.”
Bader’s speed proved valuable again in the fourth inning when he executed a swinging bunt down the third-base line.
Not only did he beat the throw to first base, but he also advanced to second when a poorly thrown ball by Mark Vientos went into foul territory. Bader eventually scored on a single from Anthony Volpe.
While the Yankees only managed six hits in the game, Bader contributed half of them. His final hit was a single through the right side of the infield against Jose Quintana in the sixth inning.
Boone acknowledged that Bader, who had been struggling in July with a .204 batting average and only one home run in his first 16 games, had been working
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