Mets fans haven't hadn't much to cheer of late, with the dog days bringing a summer swoon for the Amazin's, but they were quick to recognize good news at sticky Citi Field on Thursday -- when clouds rolled in to provide a brief respite from the scorching sun.
Much to the amusement of SNY announcer Gary Cohen and analyst Ron Darling, fans broke into a palpable applause when Mother Nature furnished some much-needed relief on a day where temperatures at nearby Flushing Meadows reached the mid-90s and the climate "felt like" over 100 degrees when factoring in the moderate humidity, according to the Weather Channel.
"Shade has arrived, and the fans are happy," Cohen said during the home half of the second inning.
"That's amazing," Darling responded.
"I've seen sunshine applauded before, but I've never seen clouds applauded to that extent," remarked Cohen, a lifelong Mets fan and the team's resident unofficial historian.
The tough conditions seemed to be overwhelming at times for Mets starter Marcus Stroman, who was on the hill for Game 1 of the Thursday doubleheader. He appeared to double over a couple times on the hill, and conceded after the game that he needs to improve his pregame hydration on days like this.
The oppressive heat, expected to last through Friday evening, prompted warnings from weather services. At-risk groups were advised to remain indoors where air conditioning was available, and to avoid strenuous activity.
Fans who braved the sweltering climes were in for a long day in Queens, with the Mets and Nationals set to play the seven-inning twin bill after Wednesday night's regularly scheduled game was rained out. The teams did manage to finish a previously suspended game on Wednesday before the rainout, however.
On Thursday, the brave souls who sweated it out at Citi Field were treated to a Mets win in the first game of the double dip, powered by four RBIs by leadoff man Brandon Nimmo.
The heat soared along the eastern seaboard and further inland on Thursday, with at least a couple other stadiums seeing temperatures north of 90 degrees at first pitch, including the Dodgers-Phillies game at Citizens Bank Park and the Cardinals-Pirates game at PNC Park.