Big leagues
Posted on June 16, 2024
Updated June 16, 2024 at 10:11 pm ET
If hitting is contagious, the rest of the Mets lineup has caught whatever their designated hitter has been spreading.
JD Martínez’s bat is still sizzling, but he was just one of the contributors in an 11-6 rout of the Padres to cap off a sweep at Citi Field in front of 31,054 people on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.
The Mets (33-37) have won five straight, nine of their last 11, and have only won three in a row against another NL wild-card contender.
Carlos Mendoza’s group had 14 total hits (every member of the starting lineup reached base) and scored seven times in the first four innings, building a sizable lead they would need due to a shaky relief corps.
Francisco Lindor reacts after hitting a home run for the Mets to start the first inning. Robert Sabo for the NY Post Pete Alonso celebrates after hitting a three-run home run against the Padres on Sunday. Robert Sabo for the NY Post
The Mets were able to withstand a bullpen implosion in the top of the eighth because the offense exploded three times, finally in the bottom of the eighth.
A key strikeout by Drew Smith in the top of the eighth gave them a breather, and the Mets escaped for the second time with an eight-batter, four-run finish to the inning.
“I thought (the eighth inning) was a big statement,” said Pete Alonso, who launched a three-run homer in the first and a two-run single in the eighth. “We, as an offense, stick together collectively. I think we did a great job over the nine innings putting together some great at-bats.
“That’s a big win for the team.”
The same club that was 11 games under .500 just two weeks ago and has been trying to fight back heading into the trade deadline is just 1 ¹/₂ games out of a wild card spot.
JD Martínez continued his tear at the plate for the Mets during Sunday’s game against the Padres. Robert Sabo for the NY Post
“I’m not looking at the standings,” Mendoza said before the ironic Father’s Day slap to the San Diego dads (37-38). “Obviously I know we have to continue playing better. … We’re going to be there until the end.
“There’s a good feeling right now in that clubhouse.”
There isn’t a hitter who feels better than Martinez, who went 2-for-3 with a pair of walks and extended his on-base streak to 10 consecutive plate appearances before striking out in the eighth. But the good feeling has become contagious.
Number one hitter Francisco Lindor hit his first leadoff home run of the season. No. 2 hitter Brandon Nimmo finished with three hits. Martínez, ranked No. 3, was on base four times and cleanup hitter Alonso drove in five.
Facing Padres ace Dylan Cease, the Mets built a 4-0 lead after four batters and didn’t retire a batter until Cease’s 28th pitch.
Francisco Lindor hit his 12th home run of the season during the Mets’ win on Sunday. Robert Sabo for the NY Post Padres manager Mike Shildt was ejected from their Sunday loss against the Mets. Robert Sabo for the NY Post
Three innings later, it was the bottom of the order that started the party. Seventh hitter Luis Torrens singled before ninth hitter Harrison Bader hit an RBI double. The big hitters responded with a sacrifice fly (by Lindor), a single (by Nimmo) and an RBI double (by Martínez).
“When everyone is hitting on all cylinders like today, it’s really fun as an offense,” said Alonso, who now has nine career games with five or more RBIs, a franchise mark that trails only David Wright’s 10. .
In the 15 games since the Mets hit rock bottom (Jorge López threw his glove into the stands before a team meeting was called) the offense has averaged 5.73 runs per game.
Sunday’s outburst became necessary when the bullpen began to fall apart.
Jeff McNeil attempts a double play during Sunday’s game against the Padres. Robert Sabo for the NY Post JD Martínez celebrates after hitting a double during Sunday’s game against the Padres. Robert Sabo for the NY Post
After solid efforts from Tylor Megill (five innings, two runs) and Adrian Houser (two innings, one unearned run), Jake Diekman was unable to throw a strike, to the plate or second base, in the eighth.
A bad play on a comeback, which could have been a double play but ended up in center field, plus a pair of walks allowed the Padres to score a run. One pick play brought another and brought Smith.
Smith’s first two batters: RBI double, sacrifice fly. With the tying run on second, Luis Arráez singled to right field, but Starling Marte’s strong pitch kept Ha-Seong Kim at third.
Harrison Bader and the Mets have won five straight games. Robert Sabo for the NY Post
“He can stop a running game,” Mendoza said of Marte, who was the only member of the starting lineup without a hit. “He can help you win games in a lot of different ways.”
With the tying run on third and the go-ahead run on first, Smith launched a Fernando Tatis Jr. cutter and roared off the mound.
The Mets responded by sending eight batters to the plate in the bottom of the inning, when Torrens (with a home run), Nimmo (with a single) and Alonso (with a generously scored two-run single) drove in runs.
“It’s a good wave we’re riding right now,” Lindor said after a happy Father’s Day. “We just have to make sure we stay at it as long as possible.”
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