Mets 7 Astros 2 (Citi Field, Flushing, NY)
Mets record: 40-39
Mets streak: Won 4
WP - Dedniel Nunez (2-0)
LP - Ronel Blanco (8-3)
Seat on the Korner:
We select the star of the game and virtually invite him to a Seat on the Korner, just as Ralph Kiner used to do for his studio postgame show on WOR-channel 9 broadcasts in the early decades of the Mets.
If Jeff McNeil is going to join the party, then this Mets lineup will be scary down the stretch. McNeil, going through a tough season, hit a line drive three run HR off Ronel Blanco to give the Mets the breathing room they needed to cruise to a 7-2 win against Houston. McNeil would go 3-for-4 on the evening.
Need to Know
The Mets are now over .500 for the first time since they were 16-15 on May 2nd.
McNeil's homer in the 6th was his first dinger at Citi Field this season.
The Astros stranded 14 men on base, with Mauricio Dubon being responsible for 8 of them by himself.
Jose Altuve's leadoff home run on the first pitch of the game was the 39th leadoff home run of his career, tying him with George Springer for 2nd and trailing only Craig Biggio (53) in Astros history.
Jose Quintana's outing was short ... 4 innings, two runs on 6 hits and 3 walks but 7 strikeouts on 93 pitches.
Joe Espada was ejected from the game in the 7th for aruging balls and strikes after Jake Meyers was called out on strikes.
Pending the outcome of the Reds/Cardinals game, the Mets could be tied for the third wild card spot by the end of play this evening.
Turning Point
The Mets were ahead in the 6th when Jeff McNeil came to the plate with two outs in the 6th. But it's an at-bat that never should have happened. Alex Bregman made an error on a routine grounder to put two runners on and set up McNeil's dinger which put the game out of reach.
Three Keys
By The Power Of Greyskull
The Mets have been beating some good pitchers during this good stretch, but laying six on Ronel Blanco might be the most impressive feat of them all (though Shota Imanaga might have a word.) Blanco came in at 8-2, a 2.34 ERA, a WHIP of 0.96, and an ERA+ of 169. They hung a six spot on him with three home runs like he was a beer leaguer.
Dead(niel) Red
With Edwin Diaz out for 7 more games and the news that Drew Smith will most likely need Tommy John surgery, the Mets bullpen needs someone to take some hard innings in bulk.
Dedniel Nunez pitched two scoreless innings tonight. The first with the game tied, and the second with a four run lead, but he had to work through two hits and a walk. He navigated those land mines to get the Mets to some stress free innings at the end.
Nunez has been a revelation, and the Mets getting to the point where Diaz comes back while being largely unscathed in the standings will depend largely on the arm of Nunez. The way he's pitched, confidence is high that Nunez can bridge that gap.
Vibes Are High
It's hard not to recognize that the Mets are having fun, between Grimace and Jose "Candelita" Iglesias' song "OMG", which Iglesias performed after the Mets victory as the track was released today upon popular demand..
Does fun lead to wins? Or do wins lead to fun? Either way, keep 'em both coming.