Baby steps for Francisco Lindor. Giant leaps for Brett Baty.
Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Baty started one two-run rally and finished another while Luis Severino tossed five innings of one-run ball as the New York Mets (6-7) snapped the Kansas City Royals’ (9-5) seven-game winning streak with a 6-1 victory at Citi Field. The Mets have now won six out of eight after starting the season 0-5.
Baty, who extended his hitting streak to seven games, smacked a two-run double that gave New York a 5-1 lead in the fifth inning on a drive to center that grazed off the glove of a leaping Kyle Isbel. The 24-year-old also continues to play a much improved third base.
In the fourth, the Mets rallied for two runs by way of four consecutive singles – starting with, yes, Baty, who got things going with two outs and nobody on. Francisco Álvarez came through behind Baty before Jeff McNeil and DJ Stewart each followed through with an RBI knock.
After a slow start to the season for the offense, the Mets’ bats came alive in Atlanta as they accounted for 29 runs over three games. Lindor, however, didn’t join the parade and entered tonight hitting .098 (5-for-51). Fans suggested they greet the shortstop with a standing ovation and owner Steve Cohen supported the idea, which famously worked for Trea Turner in Philadelphia last year.
The fans stood by their word, showering Lindor with applause before each of his at-bats. He went 1-for-3 with a walk, a run scored and made a nice leaping catch on a soft line drive to end the first inning.
Severino gave up a home run to Salvador Pérez in the second inning that gave the Royals a 1-0 lead. The Mets tied the game on a two-out double from Brandon Nimmo in the third that came after Harrison Bader singled and stole second. Severino went five innings, giving up only one hit on the home run while walking four and striking out four. He fanned a badly fooled Bobby Witt Jr. on a check swing with two outs and two on in the fifth, with perhaps the final pitch of his night being his best.
The bullpen, which failed Severino in his last start, was stellar. Jake Diekman, Reed Garrett, Adam Ottavino and Jorge López combined for four scoreless innings, striking out six in the process.
Pete Alonso hit a solo homer off of Will Smith in the eighth for his fourth of the season as the cherry on top.
Stat of the Game
The Mets were 5-for-10 with runners in scoring position and had five two-out RBIs.
Player of the Game
Baty was 2-for-4 with two RBIs, a run scored and is now slashing .327/.365/.408 on the year.
On Deck
Dwight Gooden moving arm bobblehead day! Looks cute. Sean Manaea (1-0, 0.82) will go for the Mets and Alec Marsh (1-0, 3.09) will toe the rubber for Kansas City. First pitch at Citi Field is set for 1:40 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on SNY.
