Call it the James McCann revenge game.
The ex-Met and current Baltimore Oriole catcher, playing in his first game against his old team, had three hits and a walk with five RBIs and even a stolen base in the Amazin’s ugly 10-3 loss to the Orioles on Friday night at Camden Yards.
McCann had signed a $40.6 million contract before the 2021 season in what was one of the first major moves made after Steve Cohen took over the club.
But the backstop slashed .220/.282/.328 with an OPS+ of 70 (30 points below league average) over two seasons as he formed one of the worst offensive catching duos with Tomas Nido.
He was shipped to Baltimore in the offseason, and the Mets sent $19 million for the remaining $24.3 million he was owed for 2023 and 2024.
McCann looked like a completely different player on Friday night — and he even made some history.
According to STATS, McCann became the first catcher to go 3-for-3 or better with a walk, a stolen base and at least five RBIs since RBIs became an official statistic in 1920.
When asked by reporters if Friday’s game meant something extra he said, “I’d be lying if I said no,” according to the Associated Press.
Hitting eighth in the order, McCann, 33, drew a walk against David Peterson in the second but did some real damage two innings later against right-hander John Curtiss.
On the first pitch of the at-bat, McCann smacked a 107-mph single up the middle to drive in two runs.
McCann followed that up in the sixth with a booming shot high off the left field wall, just missing a three-run homer, settling for a two-RBI double.
But his adventure on the bases didn’t end there, as he stole third base before scoring on Adley Rutschman’s sacrifice fly.
McCann stole four bases over two seasons combined with the Mets.
He added an RBI single for his fifth run driven in on the night.
Before his monster night, he only just 10 RBIs all season.
With the Mets, McCann recorded 28 RBIs over two years and never recorded more than four in a game in orange and blue.
After the win, McCann lauded his new teammates and said he loves playing for the Orioles.
“To see guys truly love each other, guys truly pull for each other, that’s part of why you see the guys having the success they are,” McCann said, according to the Baltimore Sun. “It’s just a great place to show up every day to work. It’s not work when you love everything you’re doing.
“There’s something special here.”