Biles Leads Big At Trials; Injuries Hit 2 Other Stars
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
1f2da579c5906487554b9d85d9fe64b2 D4466905d5d3b57d5efd96f14f7c5502 Hd1b45bc92cda4e89a34210b82e1100b4K Ef66d7f38e6ec44db3875138dfce70dc 29c951c0e0e2aaacd4afa51fb6bf9ada Il Fullxfull.2852873611 5ap5 1643209860329 49423779b52df8a81a5959628243fb28 15608 2 31a60f2c5e1edc9b32d519dae01a0a8a 3806063910 12 0 30e09e1302a5ce056efb07723b4c0d03 100ae8f620dcd9e37723bcf97699d8c5 3ea3309971dd4259041687086ff8773e Farmhouse Kitchens Kitchen Cabinet Pulls Hardware Cabinet Hardware Size Brown Kitchen 1536x1152 C9013b7bf0dded106d0790bf98752ef4 27b3418ffbadbffddf5a4961fb98a97d 81X8AQALEnL B7e0a699e20a9a90cad55d69b06e1e7f 3e7b206ce6e30924adb12c752f9cdddd Fdbe6a86 2ae9 453e 80d7 7f371009147c 1.36bd3377c3bbdb6e65c0831b38a3e78f 94df5d3006c992eacb885819a78c5bc1 32cbda48f2e50917ccf5232dc31acbbd Cabinet Handles Door Handles 1*lHnKu WdGAsuE 8oOR5qYw 1787da8b2973fc7243b64ab8feae5cc9 Jgvywhaw Qg 7e8a04bf36abe4e7fa3c5996eda182d6 588390da543e17fb0139850c4b9b35c6 Appliance Pull Antique Brass 7a0a4fcdb5086df0f155ce2e1d8b97fa Bowarepro Antique Brass Furniture Handles Vintage Cabinet Knobs And Handles Door Closet Cabinet Drawer Kitchen Pull Kitchen With Grey Shaker Cabinets Black Pulls White Subway Tile Ss 768x512
Biles Leads Big At Trials; Injuries Hit 2 Other Stars
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
