Jeff McNeil continued his power surge, as he golfed a two-run homer to lead the Mets to a 3-2 win over the Yankees Tuesday night in the Bronx. The Mets are now 3-0 versus the Yankees this year.
With the game tied 1-1 in the sixth inning, former Met Michael Tonkin came on to pitch and immediately gave up a double to Pete Alonso. Mark Vientos hit a fly ball that advanced Alonso to third and the Mets took the lead with McNeil’s home run.
Seven of McNeil’s last 10 hits have gone for extra-bases, including four home runs. In his last 11 games, McNeil has raised his OPS from .578 to .640, a gain of 62 points.
The Mets have loaded up on lefties while facing the Yankees this year, with Jose Quintana getting the start. He allowed just 3 H and 1 R in 5 IP and picked up the win. How committed are the Mets to using lefties against the Yankees? They had Jake Diekman close out the game! He issued a one-out walk and then struck out Aaron Judge and then got a ground out to end the game.
Lefty Sean Manaea goes for the Mets on Wednesday.
Watching this game, I felt it was the Yankees ineptitude against the Mets clumsiness. Fifth inning: Yankees up 1-0, the Mets load the bases with no outs. Pinky flies out to short right field, runners hold. Lindor gets hit on the forearm, tying run scores. Nimmo misses a homerun by a dozen feet them takes a 2-1 dead fish down the pipe? He then just wails at a pitch away in disgust with himself and it’s two outs. Martinez does nothing, so just the one run.
Later on, inning #8, bases loaded, one out Torrens at the plate, he strikes out. Then, with two outs, Taylor is up on the count 3-0, and strikes out. Wow. Hernandez said at that spot he preferred the defense of Taylor as Cohen said “do you prefer Stewart with his OBP in this spot”? I kind of wanted the run, but Taylor was up 3-0…. He had his chance.
The pitching was superb! Great job by everyone, including my least favorite reliever as he got the save. Manaea tomorrow…. It will be difficult.
Agree Gus. They pulled it out and it counts as much as any other, just like a broken bat blooper. They need it and we’ll take it. Still, let’s not mortgage the future July 30.
Amen, Amen, Amen.
Preach T.J.!
Diekman to the rescue. What an unlikely hero. It might just be that he was pitching for his roster spot as he has been pretty awful lately and as a lefty, this is exactly where you normally bring him into a game that is of course when you’re closer can’t go two days in a row. How can the Mets have a closer that can pitch two days in a row? And McNeil, not in trouble of losing his roster spot, but certainly playing time, starts pounding the ball just when they needed him most. Put him in right and let Iggy play 2B. Two and a half behind the Braves. Let’s sweep the bombers tonight.
Gut Reaction: McNeil continues to resurrect his lost season. He now has a .868 OPS in the last 28 games. If the bullpen was short last night then why didn’t Quintana start the 6th? Probably it was the 100 pitch Boogeyman. It was very uncomfortable when Diekman walked Soto on four pitches in front of Judge. Diekman vs Judge was not a good move but Mendoza painted himself in a corner by using Diaz with a three-run lead yesterday. Stearns has to get him some help at the back end of the bullpen. Thankfully it all worked out.