Even if he doesn’t quite remember the moment, Jesse Winker might remember the emotion — the electric currents running through his body as he declined, for several seconds, to round the bases.
He watched the ball sail over the center-field wall, halted and stared into a home dugout that had collectively leapt.
He unleashed a fist pump that more resembled a left hook. He ripped off his helmet and spiked it.
Mets left fielder Jesse Winker reacts after he hits a walk off home run during the 9th inning. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
Mets left fielder Jesse Winker reacts after he hits a walk off home run. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POSTFinally, he began jogging around the bases until a welcome line greeted him around home plate. His high five with Francisco Lindor was almost violent.
Next came Jose Iglesias, whose right hand might still be ringing. After a few more slapped hands, he leapt and landed on the plate in a moment that — if this season goes anywhere — could live for a long time in Mets memory, even if it is gone from Winker’s.
“I saw it go over the fence,” Winker said later, “and I blacked out.”
When he came to, his first home run with the Mets had given his club both a single-game and series victory over an AL East heavyweight.
Winker’s solo shot to lead off the bottom of the ninth against closer Seranthony Dominguez helped the Mets steal a rubber game from the Orioles in a significant, 4-3 survival match in front of 32,871 fans at Citi Field who used to hate the player they abruptly love.
The blast from Winker, an old nemesis turned friend at the trade deadline, became the second walk-off home run from the Mets in three games against Baltimore.
With swings from Winker and Francisco Alvarez, the Mets took a strong first step in a three-series, 10-game gantlet against clubs that likely will be playing in October.
Mets left fielder Jesse Winker celebrates with his teammates after he scores on his walk off home run. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
Mets left fielder Jesse Winker is doused with gatorade after he scores on his walk off home run. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POSTThe home portion now finished, the Mets (66-61) begin a four-game set in San Diego on Thursday before playing three in Arizona.
“Huge series for us, especially winning two games the way we did,” manager Carlos Mendoza said after his club temporarily moved 1 1/2 games back of the Braves for the third NL wild card. “We were able to find a way.”
The Mets found a way behind Lindor, who became the first shortstop in MLB history with three seasons of at least 25 home runs and 25 steals with his dinger in the third inning. J.D. Martinez’s ground out scored another in the fifth.
Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor reacts after connecting on a solo home run field off a pitch by the Baltimore Orioles in the third inning. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POSTThe Mets found a way behind Sean Manaea. He had a perfect game until two outs in the sixth inning, when he plunked Jackson Holliday.
On the very next pitch, Manaea allowed a game-tying, two-run homer to Austin Slater.
The Mets found a way by retaking the lead in the seventh, when Mark Vientos blasted his 20th home run of what has been a breakout season.
Mets starting pitcher Sean Manaea throws to the Baltimore Orioles in the first inning. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POSTThe Mets found a way in the eighth, when Jose Butto replaced Manaea, pitched his way into a bases-loaded, no-out jam and only allowed the tying run to score.
“That’s a World Series-contending team,” Manaea said of the Orioles, who continually fought back in the series and twice were dealt crushing blows.
Before the ninth inning, Winker had been a relatively disappointing newcomer.
Mets third baseman Mark Vientos hits a solo home run to put the Mets ahead during the 7th inning. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POSTAcquired July 28 from the Nationals, the lefty swinger was supposed to pound righty pitching. Although his .275 average with the Mets before Wednesday was fine, his only extra-base hits were a pair of doubles.
Winker did not start Wednesday, when the Orioles turned to lefty Cole Irvin, but he was ready when a righty flamethrower was on the mound.
Winker pinch hit for Harrison Bader, dug himself into an 0-2 hole, and watched three pitches from Dominguez miss the strike zone.
The sixth pitch of the fight was a 98.5-mph fastball at the bottom of the zone that Winker destroyed.
“When I saw it carry, and that thing just kept on going,” Mendoza said, “we just started shaking hands.”
The feeling from the trainers room, where Manaea resided: “elation.”
In a critical portion of the season, the Mets will want to remember this game. Winker won’t be able, so he’ll be watching highlights.
“I haven’t yet,” said Winker, an eight-year pro and 18-game Met, “But I’m gonna.
“On a personal level, it’s probably one of my favorite things I’ve done.”






