Mets 8, Red Sox 3 (Citi Field, Flushing, NY)
Mets Record: 76-64
Mets Streak: W7
Mets Last 10: 8-2
WP: Danny Young (3-0) LP: Tanner Houck (8-10)
Seat On The Korner: Jesse Winker
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.
Today's Seat On The Korner goes to Jesse Winker, whose first inning grand slam ensured that the Red Sox would be playing catch-up for the entire game. After a slow start since being acquired from the Nationals, Winker has become a solid contributor (and certainly a huge upgrade over D.J. Stewart, whom he replaced). Winker is hitting .325 as a starter for the Mets and, in a pleasant surprise, has played a solid outfield. How does he feel now, having moved from the cellar-dwelling Nats to a pennant race? Tune in.
Need To Know
The win was the Mets seventh in row, tying their longest winning streak of the season (June 12-18). They have won eight of their last nine, 11 of their last 14 and 14 of their last 19.
The sweep was the Mets 11th this season and their first ever against the Red Sox.
The Mets are 12 games over .500, their high-water mark and 23 games better than their low point of 11 under on June 2.
The Mets failed to gain ground on the Braves, who beat the Cardinals. At this writing, the Diamondbacks were also leading although the Padres were trailing.
Mets' starting pitchers have not yielded a home run in six consecutive games.
After an off-day Thursday, the Mets host the Reds for three games over the weekend. The rotation: Sean Manaea followed by Jose Quintana and Luis Severino.
Turning Point
The Mets carried a somewhat worrisome 4-3 lead into the bottom of the eighth, helped by inning-ending double plays three consecutive innings. But then, Red Sox manager Alex Cora brought in Kenly Jansen to pitch. Jansen, with 445 career saves and an 0.91 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 39.2 innings against the Mets lifetime, walked Brendan Nimmo, game up a single to Mark Vientos, struck out Pete Alonso and walked Jesse Winker. Tyrone Taylor worked the count to 3-2 and then walked, scoring Nimmo. That allowed the floodgates to open as 98-year-old Rich Hill replaced Jansen and his control was even worse. He walked Jeff McNeil and Francisco Alvarez, plating two more; Harrison Bader hit a sacrifice fly and a close game became a laugher. Give Taylor credit for creating the turning point (or, perversely, give Jansen the credit).
Three Keys
Managing like it's the playoffs
Twenty-two games remain in the regular season, but Carlos Mendoza managed this game as if it could be the Mets' last: a quick hook for Tylor Megill, bringing in relievers in the middle of innings, using his closer in a non-save situation to seal the deal. Mendoza is aware of how far the Mets have come, but more importantly, how they need to keep the pedal to the metal if they want to make the playoffs.
Double Plays, a Pitcher's Best Friend
Three innings -- the fifth, sixth and seventh -- ended with ground ball double plays. It was the first time since 1966 that three different Mets pitchers (Alex Young, Huascar Brazoban and Danny Young) had thrown inning-ending double plays in consecutive innings.
Lindor's streaks continue
Amid growing MVP chants and the fans joining in a group sing of "My Girl," Francisco Lindor went 2-for-5, extending his hitting streak to 15 games and his on-base streak to 33 games. Lindor is hitting .336 over the 33 games, with 27 runs, 11 doubles, one triple, eight home runs, 21 RBI and nine walks.
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