Marcus Semien hit a tie-breaking solo homer in the eighth inning, and Brett Baty stunned the Rangers with a grand slam in the ninth as the Mets hurt the Rangers’ playoff hopes for the second night in a row with a 7-2 win in Texas.

Semien, who played four years in Texas and was a key part of its 2023 championship team, connected for his 15th homer off closer Jacob Latz (3-4) to break a 2-2 tie. Latz entered the game early because the Rangers (78-80) are fighting for their playoff lives.

Baty’s slam traveled 455 feet and came after a walk to Bo Bichette and an intentional walk to Juan Soto. The Mets (73-85) have won four of five.

For four innings, it was a familiar sight in Texas: a pitcher named Nolan allowing no hits and racking up strikeouts.

But Brandon Nimmo singled off Nolan McLean (12-10) to start the fifth. He scored on a Jake Burger single, and Texas tied the game at 2-2 when Evan Carter beat out a potential 4-6-3, inning-ending double-play ball with the bases loaded.

After surviving the fifth, McLean retired the side in order in the sixth and seventh and was done. No Met starting pitcher has recorded an out in the eighth inning this year.

Soto hit a two-run homer in the third to open the scoring. It was his 27th long ball in 107 games, and he finished the night hitting .276/.394/.526. Francisco Alvarez went 2-for-4 for his fourth straight two-hit game.

The Mets might’ve had the lead sooner if Nick Morabito could have laid down a bunt.

Morabito couldn’t get one down in the fifth with first and second and no outs. He struck out swinging. He came up in the same situation in the seventh. Again, he failed to advance the runners, bunting foul for strike three. In both innings, Francisco Lindor followed with a fly out, Soto was intentionally walked, and Bichette was retired with the bases loaded.

Devin Williams, pitching for the first time since Aug. 7, worked a perfect eighth. Cionel Pérez finished the game.

Stat of the Game

McLean finishes the year with 194 strikeouts, third most by a rookie in team history. Dwight Gooden, aka Dr. K, is No. 1 with 276 in 1984, which is also the MLB rookie record. Kodai Senga is second with 202 in 2023. In his rookie year with the Mets in 1968, Nolan Ryan struck out 133.

Player of the Game

McLean allowed two runs on three hits, walked one and struck out five. He finishes the season with a 3.16 ERA over 179 2/3 innings. He walked 70. He is the first Met rookie to make 31 starts since Jae Weong Seo in 2003.

On Deck

Zac Thornton (5-5, 3.40 ERA) will make his 15th and final start of the season. Kumar Rocker (5-11, 4.47 ERA) goes for Texas. Game time is 2:35 p.m. ET on SNY.