The Dark Knight pleaded his case to manager Terry Collins. Matt Harvey wanted to take the mound in the ninth inning to finish what he started against the Kansas City Royals and get the New York Mets a victory in Game 5 of the 2015 World Series.
What resulted was one of the most heartbreaking collapses in the history of the Fall Classic.
The Mets led the Royals 2-0 heading into the top of the ninth, but Harvey allowed a leadoff walk followed by an RBI double to Eric Hosmer to cut the lead to 2-1. The Dark Knight was unable to deliver for his city.
That's when Collins went with his original plan and brought in closer Jeurys Familia.
But that didn't go as expected either.
Familia, for the second consecutive night, did his job and got the first batter he faced to hit a weak ground ball, but the Royals still managed to have it their way. Hosmer, who was on third base when Salvador Perez hit a grounder to third baseman David Wright, took off immediately when Wright threw the ball to first base to ensure the second out of the inning.
Hosmer's jolt for home plate surprised first baseman Luca Duda, which caused his throw to catcher Travis d'Arnaud to be rushed and way off target. Hosmer slid headfirst into home and tied the game 2-2.
It was another extra innings battle and the first time two games in the same World Series went beyond the ninth inning since 2001.
But New York registered only one hit in the 10th, 11th and 12th innings and the Royals used a five-run 12th to secure their first World Series title since 1985.
The man who put the Royals ahead in that inning was Christian Colon, who was pinch-hitting for pitcher Luke Hochevar. Colon had yet to log an at-bat during the 2015 MLB playoffs, but his go-ahead RBI single off Addison Reed brought home Jarrod Dyson to put the Royals up 3-2.
Then the Royals faithful - Alcides Escobar and Lorezeno Cain - each added doubles to extend the lead. Escobar's extra base hit brought in one run and Cain's bases-clearing double brought in three to all but seal the team's first World Series victory in 30 years.
Although Cain's hit came off Bartolo Colon, it was Reed who was charged with the five runs (four earned) after allowing three hits and a walk prior to Colon's relief.
Royals' closer Wade Davis was then tasked with facing the anemic Mets' offense in the bottom half of the inning. He got Duda and d'Arnaud to strike out before rookie Michael Conforto kept New York's slim hopes alive with a single. However, Wilmer Flores struck out looking to end the World Series at Citi Field on Sunday night.
Kansas City's 7-2 victory was yet another customary Royals' triumph where they utilized their clutch hitting, dominant bullpen and overall perseverance. The series-clinching win marked the third time in this Fall Classic where the Royals staged a comeback in the eighth inning or later and absolutely crushed the Mets' momentum.
Although Kansas City scattered just four hits off Harvey in the first eight innings of the game, the 2015 World Series champions managed to score seven runs on six hits and a walk in the next four frames to bury the Mets in Game 5.
The Royals' 2014 postseason experience really made the difference in this World Series matchup, as the Mets were seemingly unable to handle the pressure of late-game situations. New York hadn't been to the playoffs since 2006, and it especially showed on Sunday night when their offense recorded only four hits in 14 innings.
One of those hits - a leadoff home run by Curtis Granderson - came in the top of the first inning. The Mets did draw six walks on the night, but their inability to put the ball in play didn't make the most of those opportunities.
It's the Royals who are now celebrating the end of a longstanding championship drought. One team was set to make their mark on the MLB in this World Series, as both clubs hadn't won a title since the '80s.
Kansas City appeared to be dead the night after Halloween, but the relentless Royals came alive when it mattered most and delivered the franchise its second World Series championship after falling one game short of that goal a year ago.
And they accomplished that feat just as the 2015 Royals would have: with determination, poise and clutch performances.
