The New York Mets have won a season-best seven games in a row and seem intent on keeping the longest active streak in the majors going Wednesday night at Texas.
One night after overcoming a four-run deficit, New York can complete a three-game sweep of the reeling Rangers at Arlington, Texas.
The Mets have scored 21 runs while winning the first two games against the Rangers, accumulating 32 over their past three outings.
New York racked up 22 hits in Monday’s 14-2 win and then rallied for a 7-6 victory on Tuesday when Pete Alonso delivered the tiebreaking double in the ninth.
“I think it’s special. I love the way the guys are playing right now,” said outfielder Brandon Nimmo, who has homered in both games of the series. “I love the way they are responding to adversity.
“Every bit of us could’ve just rolled over and been like ‘We’re playing good baseball, we’ll get ’em some other time tomorrow.’ But the guys stayed on it and kept fighting till the very end.”
One of the biggest hits for the Mets was Francisco Alvarez’s two-run double in the eighth that tied the score and set the table for the club’s 11th win in the past 13 games.
Alvarez and Mark Vientos, who homered, each had three hits as New York totaled 10, less than half of Monday’s output.
The Mets were just 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position, with the hits being the big doubles by Alvarez and Alonso.
“We’re not giving any easy outs away and we’re doing a great job of staying disciplined,” said Alonso, who has eight RBIs over the past four games. “Regardless of the deficit, we’re just looking to put together quality at-bats and just chip away.”
The Rangers have dropped five straight games — their third skid of five or more games in just seven weeks — and 10 of their past 14.
Texas looked as if it could get back in the win column. The Rangers built a 6-2 advantage after five innings but their bullpen wasn’t able to protect the lead.
“Tough one. No getting around it, we let that one get away,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “We had our guys set up (in the bullpen). … These are games that I like my chances. It just got away.”
Texas was encouraged by the six runs after having just nine over the previous four games.
“We need to build off what we did offensively,” Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien said. “I think that we did some good things. We also didn’t take care of some little things. The offense has been a big concern, obviously. We had some life in our bats today.”
New York’s Sean Manaea (4-3, 4.11 ERA) and Texas’ Andrew Heaney (2-8, 4.19) will square off Wednesday in a battle of left-handers.
Manaea gave up 12 runs (11 earned) in 9 1/3 innings to lose his first two starts of the month before bouncing back in his last turn. He gave up one run and four hits and struck out seven in five innings to defeat the San Diego Padres on Friday.
The 32-year-old is 7-4 with a 4.18 ERA in 15 career starts against Texas. Robbie Grossman is 5-for-12 against Manaea while Corey Seager (3-for-6), Adolis Garcia (2-for-6) and Nathaniel Lowe (1-for-6) all have taken him deep.
Heaney has dropped his last two starts, allowing three runs in each. In his last outing, Friday against the Seattle Mariners, he gave up six hits over 4 2/3 innings.
Heaney, 33, is 0-0 with a 1.64 ERA in three career appearances (two starts) against the Mets. J.D. Martinez is 4-for-11 with two homers against Heaney and Starling Marte (2-for-3) also has a long ball against him.
–Field Level Media
