Last update images today Unique Male Name Generator
Kahleah Copper Scores 11 Of Her 24 Points In The Third Quarter, The Mercury Beat The Sparks 92-78
NEW YORK -- — Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil homered in the sixth inning Friday night, powering the New York Mets to a 7-2 win over the Houston Astros and moving them over .500 for the first time since May 2.
The Mets have gone 18-6 since May 30 — the day after players held a team meeting following a 10-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers — to improve to 40-39.
It is the fourth time in team history New York has climbed over .500 after being at least 11 games under the break-even mark.
“I think we’re just in a good place,” McNeil said. “We’re playing solid baseball This team’s good. This team can do some pretty special things. Back over .500, which is huge.”
Alonso snapped a 2-2 tie with a one-out homer off Astros starter Ronel Blanco (8-3) — his first round-tripper since June 19 and only his third since June 5.
McNeil capped the outburst by ending an even longer power drought with a 346-foot, three-run homer just beyond the right field fence. The second baseman was 12 for 83 (.145) since his previous homer against Cleveland on May 22.
“I thought it was going down in the corner,” McNeil said with a grin. “I knew it was extra bases for sure. No better feeling once that ball got in the first row.”
McNeil finished 3 for 4 in his first three-hit game since May 7. The 2022 major league batting champion is hitting just .221 this season, which ranks 125th out of 144 qualified batters through late Friday night.
“My year’s not where I want it to be and it’s going to be very hard to save,” McNeil said. “But what I can do right now is show up everyday at the ballpark, play well, be that .300 hitter I can be from here on out and lead this team to, hopefully, the playoffs.”
Tyrone Taylor homered, Francisco Lindor had a run-scoring double and Francisco Alvarez added a sacrifice fly.
Jose Quintana surrendered two runs in four-plus innings before a quartet of relievers combined for five scoreless frames for the Mets, who have three bullpen members on the injured list and will be without Edwin Díaz until July 6 due to a 10-game suspension for using an illegal substance.
Dedniel Nuñez (2-0) allowed three hits in two innings of relief to get the win.
“We’ve been saying that guys are going to have to step up and they did that today — especially on an night where it was a battle for Quintana,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said.
Jose Altuve hit his 39th career leadoff homer for the Astros, who had their seven-game winning streak snapped and fell to 40-41 in their attempt to move over .500 for the first time this season. Houston had just five hits in 26 plate appearances with runners on base.
“We had opportunities to score a lot of runs and we’ve been doing that very well the last couple weeks, getting big hits with runners in scoring position,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “That wasn’t the case today, but we’ll turn the page and be ready to play tomorrow.”
Jeremy Peña had an RBI single in the third, half an inning after he misplayed a pop-up while conducting an in-game broadcast interview.
Yordan Alvarez had three hits and a walk in five plate appearances.
Blanco gave up six runs (three earned) in 5 2/3 innings.
Espada was ejected after Jake Meyers struck out looking in the seventh.
“I thought the strike zone was a little bit too big,” Espada said.
SING HIM AWAY
Following the game, infielder Jose Iglesias performed his walk-up song “OMG,” which he released earlier Friday under the stage name Candelita. The Mets gathered on the field to watch Iglesias before surrounding him and dancing near second base at the end of the song.
“The scenario was perfect,” said Iglesias, who said he wouldn’t have performed the song if the Mets lost. “The fans enjoyed it. The team enjoyed it. Great ‘W’ for the team. It was just a special night overall.”
Mendoza and Mets players wore “OMG” shirts before and after the game. The song has become the team’s victory anthem and is played whenever a New York player homers at Citi Field.
“I love it,” Mendoza said before the game. “He’s got a pretty good rhythm to it. It’s a good day for him and for all of us here.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Astros: RHP Luis Garcia (Tommy John surgery) began a rehab assignment Friday and needed just 12 pitches to toss a perfect inning for the rookie-level Florida Complex League Astros. Garcia, who underwent surgery on May 19, 2023, struck out two. ... OF Kyle Tucker (left shin) took 35 swings in the cage Friday. Tucker hasn’t played since fouling a ball off his shin June 3.
Mets: RHP Drew Smith (right elbow sprain) believes he’ll need either Tommy John surgery or an internal brace procedure after an MRI “showed some pretty significant damage.” Smith, who underwent Tommy John surgery in 2019, began feeling stiffness in his elbow during an appearance June 26 and had trouble getting loose Sunday night, when he got two ninth-inning outs against the Cubs before being pulled. ... RHP Kodai Senga (right shoulder) is slated to throw a bullpen session Sunday before beginning a rehab assignment next week.
UP NEXT
Mets RHP Tylor Megill (2-4, 4.81 ERA) opposes Astros LHP Framber Valdez (6-5, 3.68 ERA) on Saturday.
------
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
1 Random Name Generator Character Name Generator 683x1024 Fd24587a2789191160506cab41ac5800 2119e17417be23f2324201f0888de886 4eeb877e79879c0c37ba00f669a24562 895a74ed92693917784ba362916342b6 Names For Boys New Names 5d3aff949f2d1086162ac842604e27f5 Boy Baby Names Kai Baby Name 5c015efb153f81366b7c18edbc01d36a E8ld W4NMAnIeg K5cLO5YJbAgfh9e0NKgfJvz1s GVJvCKVUWZjs0PSFbbV MV9rx Kp8bGJOlu4gaC8WbzRDwPDsS0gT5gKuH79soV2G023SvcgrEJhMWg=w1200 H630 P K No NuSLOANE NAMES B F9237a30bd9bf65b9ffa88580fce3b22 Unique Boy Names Meanings 683x1024 03afc1615ad5428f8ede8d4de922b2ef 70b39ead80e18ab450b81823f5c8d3c2 04ab1754a2911ed6d591773c2db31ad2 Random Name Generator 683x1024 1 1dc2736f4caebde4e3d97933b130b56c 27747bb86b328c7edc058d6965a67dcf Wizard Name Generator Dz9jwqc1r6x31 ?auto=webp&s=6937a7023b9676f94effe95769a221ef2ac2e5e8Persian Name Generator Bird Name Generator AYeL8A7 460s Random Name Generator 27747bb86b328c7edc058d6965a67dcf Fantasy Character Names 1 Enchanted Forest Name Generator 1 ?fit=1000%2C786&ssl=15d3aff949f2d1086162ac842604e27f5 Boy Baby Names Kai Baby Name Unicorn Name Generator Wolf Name Generator Mutant Name Generator Boy Name Generator 22f6fee4abff1e16ec88aa5112bb27bc Unique Boy Names Meanings 696x1044