Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Mets (49-30) entered Sunday’s series finale with the Texas Rangers (37-40) at Citi Field in desperate need of a win. Well, New York got exactly that led by a superb bounce-back performance by Carlos Carrasco, another home run by Eduardo Escobar, and scoreless work by the bullpen. The Mets captured the series with a 4-1 victory.

Like Saturday’s game, Starling Marte got the Mets on the board in the first inning. He hit a solo home run to left field which gave New York the 1-0 lead.

The Rangers tied the game back up with a solo home run of their own. In the third inning, Jonah Heim crushed the first pitch he saw from Carrasco over the right-center field wall. The game was tied after three innings.

The Mets responded with three runs in the fourth inning. Pete Alonso reached second after he struck out and Rangers’ catcher Heim made a two-base error via an errant throw. Jeff McNeil and Eduardo Escobar both followed this up with extra-base hits.

McNeil’s was a 99.8 MPH double roped down the right-field line. Meanwhile, Escobar continued his recent torrid stretch with another home run. It being a 421-foot moonshot to right field. He has homered in three consecutive games and it gave New York a 4-1 lead after four innings.

Carlos Carrasco’s day came to an end in the sixth inning. He bounced back terrifically and turned in 5 2/3rd one-run ball while striking out eight and only walking one. Joely Rodríguez came in and got a big third out after Carrasco had a man on first and second base.

The bullpen did nice work behind Carrasco. Rodríguez’s outing consisted of 1 1/3rd hitless with two strikeouts. Meanwhile, Adam Ottavino and tossed back-to-back scoreless innings. Díaz registered his 18th save of the season.

With the much-needed victory, New York regains a 3.5 lead over the Atlanta Braves in the National League East. Atlanta lost to the Cincinnati Reds, who the Mets visits next, in extra innings.

Lastly, a huge congratulations to Buck Showalter, who earned his 1,600th win as a manager after the Mets’ victory today.

Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Player of the Game: Carlos Carrasco

The veteran right-hander needed a strong start in a bad way and turned in exactly that. He pitched 5 2/3rd superb innings, scattering six hits while striking out eight. Carrasco also only walked one batter.

HIs changeup was working in a big way. His gaudy strikeout total was thanks in large part to an impressive 20 swings-and-misses he induced. Largely thanks to that changeup of his. Overall a much-needed strong outing that lowered Carrasco’s ERA from 5.85 to 4.64.

On Deck

The New York Mets will head out to Cincinnati for a three-game set against the Reds. The first game of the series will take place tomorrow, Monday, at 6:40 P.M. ET. The projected pitching matchup is Taijuan Walker (2.72 ERA) and the flame-throwing rookie Hunter Greene (5.72 ERA).