The Mets headed west to Texas this week for a three-game series against the Texas Rangers that began on Tuesday.
While the Mets have been eliminated from playoff contention, the Rangers led the AL West at the start of play and control their own destiny for the division title. For the Mets, though no longer in a playoff race, Tuesday’s game as it was Andy Green‘s first game as full-time manager after it was announced the team removed the interim tag and signed him to a three-year deal.
Francisco Alvarez by Berto Carlo
It was left-handed pitcher Sean Manaea on the mound for the visiting Mets against the lefty MacKenzie Gore on the mound for the Rangers.
With the help of big nights from Carson Benge (2-for-4, one RBI, two runs scored), Francisco Alvarez (2-for-5, two RBIs, two runs scored), and a strong six innings from Sean Manaea, the Mets defeated the Rangers 6-3 and handed Green his first official win as the Mets manager.
The Mets struck first in the third on an RBI single by Juan Soto to put them on top 1-0. But the Rangers struck right back in the bottom of the third on an RBI double by Josh Jung that scored a run to tie it 1-1.
The Mets regained the lead in the top of the fourth. After Benge struck for a ground-rule double, Alvarez later reached on a fielding error by former Met Brandon Nimmo that allowed Benge to score and Alvarez to advance to second and give the Mets a 2-1 lead over Texas. The lead flip-flopping had only just begun.
Manaea had a mess of an inning in the fourth, which saw him deliver a walk and hit two batters as the Rangers took a 3-2 lead. But the Mets re-took the lead once again in the sixth. A lead-off double by Brett Baty and a walk to Benge put two on. Two batters later, it was once again Francisco Alvarez with a big double to center field that scored two runs and made it a 4-3 Mets lead. Ewing later singled and Torrens hit a sacrifice fly to make it 5-3 as the Mets tacked on another big run.
After Manaea sailed through his first successful sixth inning of work, a milestone for him in retiring Texas in order, the Mets backed their starter, who walked away with the lead, by tacking on yet another run in the seventh. Benge hit his second double of the night, an RBI double that scored Baty and made it a 6-3 Mets lead.
Manaea’s nine strikeouts were the second most he’s recorded this season. He struck out 11 on August 9. Mets pitching went on to strike out 15 batters on Tuesday night, including two each from Nate Lavender, Dedniel Nunez and Kodai Senga, the latter of whom got the save.
Player of the Game
Tuesday night’s player of the game is Alvarez for his two RBIs and two runs scored. It was a big night for Alvarez at the plate.
On Deck
The Mets and Rangers continue their series at Globe Life Field on Wednesday at 8:05 PM EDT (7:05 PM CDT). It will be right-handed pitcher Nolan McLean (11-10, 3.18 ERA, 189 SO) on the mound for the Mets as they look to take the series from Texas. The Rangers, as of publication, have not yet announced a starter.
