Ronny Rules

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The bottom of the Mets lineup went 10 for 18, with Ronny Mauricio hitting 4 for 4 all on his own, to lift New York past the Giants by a score of 5-3, giving them the sweep. 

The Mets struck first. In the top of the third against Spencer Bivens, Francisco Alvarez and Mauricio hit back-to-back singles. Brandon Nimmo hit into a fielder’s choice, moving Alvy to third. Then, Francisco Lindor made a productive out, grounding out to short, scoring Alvarez (the ball hitting the top of the mound helped slow it down so Willy Adames couldn’t try to throw home.) 

Kodai Senga had control issues, ultimately walking five in five innings, but if it wasn’t for Matt “Chappie” Chapman, he probably wouldn’t have given up any runs at all. Alas, Chapman was in the San Francisco starting lineup, hitting fifth and playing third. He began the bottom of the fourth with a home run to straightaway center to tie the ballgame at one. Senga got the first two outs in the fifth before permitting an Adames single to left. At this point, Carlos Mendoza must have considered taking Senga out - he was at 86 pitches and was about to face the dude who just homered off of him the inning prior. But Mendy left him in, and BOOM, Chapman homered again off the first pitch he saw. 3-2 Giants. 

The Mets tied it in the top of the seventh when Mauricio hit an absolute bomb to right, the ball landing in McCovey Cove. After Nimmo and Lindor struck out against Randy Rodríguez, Juan Soto homered to left to give New York the lead. Before that inning, Rodríguez had given up just one homer all season. Whoops. 

Gregory Soto made his Met debut and threw a drama-free 1-2-3 seventh. He can stay. The bottom of the eighth was trickier, but the bullpen came through. Reed Garrett gave up a leadoff single to Adames. He struck out Chapman and Mike Yastrzermski on splitters, and was rewarded by Mendy taking him out for Brooks Raley. Giants manager Bob Melvin countered by pinch hitting old chum Dominic Smith with old chum Wilmer Flores. Flores, inexplicably, reached on an infield hit. But Raley coaxed Patrick Bailey to line out to Tyrone Taylor in center. 

The Mets added an insurance run in the top of the ninth against Sean Hjelle. Mauricio started things off with a double to left - good on Ronny to not go for a triple to get the cycle. Luisangel Acuña pinch ran for Mauricio. Then, Nimmo doubled to left center, scoring Acuña. 

And it looked like that extra run would prove to be big in the bottom half of the ninth. Edwin Díaz got Brett Wisely to fly out to right for the first out, but then he walked Jung Hoo Lee, hit Heliot Ramos with a pitch (maybe), and walked Rafael Devers. With the bases loaded, Francisco Alvarez and Francisco Lindor had a chat with Díaz. The Sugar whisperers did their job: six of Díaz’s next seven pitches were strikes - an Adames strike out looking, and a Chappy swing and a miss strike three on a fast ball. Ballgame over. Series over. Another sweep. 

It’s fun to be a Met fan right now. Don’t ruin it by trading Mauricio, Mr. Stearns.

 ***

The San Francisco G-Men were 0 for 23 with runners in scoring position for the series. Yikes. 

After the game, Ronny Mauricio charmingly smiled and said it felt really good to hit a homer into McCovey Cove because he used to watch Barry Bonds do it. 

The Yankees finally made themselves useful - they beat the Phillies yesterday. The Mets now have a 1.5 game lead in the NL East. 

Gregory Soto was activated. Fellow southpaw José Castillo was DFA’d as the corresponding roster move.

During the ESPN telecast, Buster Olney reported that the Houston Astros are interested in their “young infielders.” Olney also said what others have alluded to before: that the Mets are looking for a potential “1-3 starting pitcher” for the playoffs. 

Bob Nightengale of USA Today wrote that the White Sox are specifically asking for Mark Vientos when the Mets ask for their center fielder Luis Robert Jr. I love Swaggy V but I think you gotta make that deal if it presents itself.

Mendoza admitted that Jose Siri (fractured tibia) is “still not doing much”, but he’s expecting him to be back before the season is over.

The Triple-A Syracuse Mets (52-50) walked off the Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals affiliate) by a score of 2-1. Syracuse was losing 1-0 with one out and one on in the bottom of the ninth when Luis De Los Santos hit a game-winning two-run homer to center field off of former Met farmhand Michael Fulmer. Paul Blackburn (shoulder impingement) was outstanding in his latest rehab start, allowing just one earned run in six and one third innings. He walked one and struck out six. 

The Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies (63-30) trounced the Reading Fightin Phils (Phillies) 17-3. Carson Benge went 4 for 6 with two home runs, four runs scored, three RBI, and one walk. Ryan Clifford hit his 21st home run of the year. Starter Jack Wenninger lasted four innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits, walking five and striking out one.

The High-A Brooklyn Cyclones (59-37) held on to defeat the Greensboro Grasshoppers (Pirates) 3-2. Boston Baro had a day - he went 4 for 4 with a home run, a run scored, and three RBI. It was a bullpen game for the Cyclones - Saul Garcia got the blown save and the win. Josh Blum earned his first save.

The Low-A St. Lucie Mets (54-40) handled the Jupiter Hammerheads (Marlins) 6-1. Trey Snyder went 3 for 5 with a run scored and an RBI. Yonny Henriquez and Nick Roselli both went yard. Irving Cota got the start and threw five shutout innings, allowing four hits, walking nobody, and striking out five.

Happy 30th birthday to The Big Drip, Tylor Megill. 

Tonight the Mets try to keep the winning train a-rollin’ in San Diego. Frankie Montas (3-1, 4.82 ERA) will get the start for New York (NL). Dylan Cease (3-10, 4.59 ERA) will give it a go for the Padres (unless he’s traded.) First pitch is scheduled for 9:40 pm eastern. The game will air on SNY and MLB Network outside of the New York area.