The Mets sent 12 batters to the plate in the fifth inning en route to scoring six runs and breaking open a close game, resulting in an 8-3 win over the Diamondbacks Tuesday night in Phoenix. The Mets are now 3-2 versus the D’Backs this season.
Pete Alonso staked the Mets to a 1-0 lead as he belted a leadoff homer in the second inning, his 28th home run of the year. The Mets scratched out another run, which scored on a fielder’s choice by Jeff McNeil, which made it 2-0.
And it stayed that way until the fifth inning when McNeil led off with a double, the first of five straight hits for the Mets. Francisco Alvarez and Mark Vientos had RBI hits, while Jesse Winker added a sac fly.
And then things got strange, mostly due to poor defense by the D’Backs. Tyrone Taylor had an RBI HBP, followed by a McNeil RBI walk. And Alvarez brought home the last run with a ball booted by the Arizona shortstop, who had just a brutal game.
Sean Manaea was completely dominant thru the first six innings before running out of steam in the seventh, when he served up two homers. His final line was 6.2 IP, 3 ER, 0 BB and 11 Ks. He picked up the win and is now 10-5 on the year.
Carlos Mendoza channeled his inner Terry Collins and used four relievers to get the final seven outs.
The Mets finished with 13 hits with Brandon Nimmo leading the way with three knocks, including a double. Everyone got a hit except for the fifth spot in the lineup, which saw Winker and Harrison Bader each going 0-2. Bader is now 14-84 (.167) in his last 32 games. Maybe Wednesday he won’t get two more PA, which he seemingly gets every day.
Thankful for the small ball explosion but concerned that the offense shut down the last four innings by Montgomery who threw four plus for the DBacks. No walks by the pitchers and the pen shut them down easily after Manaea threw six plus with 11 Ks. Severino goes for win #10 tonight, and Peterson goes for #9 in a Thursday afternoon affair. No help from the Braves who have won 8 of 10. Mets need a streak like that now and while they can’t look past the two games left in the desert, they have 12 games coming against both Sox, the Reds and the Blue Jays. It’s now or never because the in-division games that follow are always tough.
Why were 4 relievers required with a 5 run lead with 2 down in the 7th inning?
Alonso tied Piazza for 3rd in all time Mets HR at 220.
What a crazy small ball 5th inning!
Gut Reaction: By winning the first games of the series, Manaea ‘s impressive pitching put the Mets in position to win the series and also the season series. Let’s face it, this is an important series for the Mets to win.
With a 5 run lead and only 7 outs remaining was there a need to use Maton and Young? There are 5 straight games to complete this road trip. We will see if it will make a difference.
I prefer McNeil, Nimmo, Winker/Marte starting in the outfield with Iglesias at second base for the majority of the time.
Let’s win the series tonight.