Francisco Lindor and Jeff McNeil both homered and drove in two runs, leading Carlos Carrasco and the streaking New York Mets past the hapless Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night(8/10) at Citi Field to wrap up another series victor.
“Cookie” (13-4, 3.76 ERA) went 6.2 innings of two run ball and struck out nine, allowed seven hits and walked a batter which in total was enough to win his fifth straight decision and is quietly surging with a 1.59 ERA in his last seven starts. While he doesn’t have to be the ace he was at times in Cleveland back in 2018 prior to his slew of injuries, the scalding Carlos has helped New York's rotation mold into the best in baseball, portraying a 2.78 ERA in eight starts since Jacob deGrom returned on August 2nd.
But while Monday’s contest focused on the revelations of Chris Bassit, this one was a power show as Francisco Lindor became the first Mets shortstop with multiple 20-homer seasons; doing so by crushing a two-run shot in the third. He has scored at least one run in 12 straight games, the longest streak of his career and tied with Mookie Betts of the Dodgers for the longest in the majors this season.
The “flying squirrel” that is Jeff McNeil led off the fourth with a homer against Mike Minor - his first off a left-hander this season. McNeil breathed a sigh of relief then alter used that exaction to punch an RBI single through in the sixth, giving the Amazings insurance runs and a 4-0 lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Newly acquired Darin Ruff from the Giants in a trade that sent the suddenly gaudy JD Davis to San Francisco along with three prospects, laced a two-run single in the seventh for the Mets, who have won 14 of 16 to move ahead of their arch rival Yankees as New York’s finest at 72-39, and maintained their lead over the Astros for the second best record in the bigs behind the those dynamite Dodgers at 76-33.
The beleaguered Reds(44-65), already without Mike Moustakes who took a trip to the IL for the fifth time this season Tuesday, breathed some competitiveness into the evening when Jake Fraley hit a two-run homer and Austin Romine and Jonathan India chased forced the hand of New York’s manager Buck Showalter with consecutive two-out singles. Trotting out of the bullpen, came Mychal Givens who the Mets acquired from the Chicago Cubs at the trade deadline, and was making his first appearance since a jittery poor outing against the Washington Nationals last week when he served up back-back homers and five runs in less than an inning.
But in the friendly pitching confines that is Citi Field(Compared to Yankee stadium that is), he struck out Nick Senzel to retire the side and preserve the 4-2 margin.
Trevor May, making his third appearance after return from his triceps inflammation in in May showed some continued signs of rust by allowing Cincinnati to load the bases, however equaled that in gumption by striking out Alex Lopes who represented the tying run, bridging a perfect ninth from Seth Lugo to clinch the series victory.
Mike Minor (1-9) allowed four runs on five hits with three walks in 5 1/3 innings. He threw 110 pitches, his most since 126 for Texas on Sept. 26, 2019 which alludes to the perception made about the New York offense being that they’re a relentless bunch and ones that have no plans is slowing down anytime soon.
BROTHERLY LOVE:
Mets closer Edwin Diaz, 28, and his younger brother, Cincinnati Reds rookie reliever Alexis Diaz, 25, exchanged the lineup cards at home plate before the game as they did in Cincinnati earlier this season.
With several family members watching and wearing split Mets/Reds shirts picturing both brothers for the second straight night, Edwin and Alexis shook hands with the umpires and posed for a photo before hugging one another. “Not only my bro but my best friend“, Diaz said.
I used AP to help me with the structure of this article
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