Astros surpass .500 for first time this year, beat Mets 10-5 in 11 innings for ninth win in 10 games

NEW YORK (AP) — The Houston Astros topped .500 for the first time this season, beating the New York Mets 10-5 on Sunday for their ninth win in 10 games as Jake Meyers hit a game-tying single in a game-tying 11th. five points. inning.

“I never lost confidence in this group,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “I know we were down, but we weren’t out, and I’m not surprised we’re here.”

Houston star Jose Altuve ejected in the seventh after throwing his bat and helmet when umpires called him on what appeared to be a foul ball.

“I understand the guy behind home plate didn’t see it because the catcher is there,” Altuve said. “But there’s three other guys — first, second and third. I felt like it was pretty obvious. That’s why I was so mad.”

Brandon Nimmo hit his 100th career home run for the Mets, a game-tying two-run homer in the seventh inning off Bryan Abreu.

With only a few thousand fans at Citi Field after a 2-hour, 47-minute rain delay midway through the ninth, Chas McCormick put the Astros ahead 5-4 with an RBI single in the 10th against Adam Ottavino.

Nimmo responded with a game-tying double early in the bottom half against Tayler Scott (4-2), who stranded the potential game-winning run at third when Mark Vientos grounded out.

Matt Festa (0-1), a New York native out of St. Joseph by the Sea High School in Staten Island, made his Mets debut and first major league appearance this season and allowed all five runs in end of season. Meyers hit a single that drove in a run, Joey Loperfido followed with a single that drove in two runs and Trey Cabbage added a double that drove in two runs.

Houston (42-41) opened the season 7-19 and was 12-24 heading into the May 9 game. The Astros won two of the Mets’ three games and finished 17-8 in June.

“It was a goal to get to .500 before the All-Star break,” Meyers said.

New York reached the halfway point with a 40-41 record, rebounding from a 24-35 start to June. The Mets have been outscored 29-9 in overtime this season, going 3-8 in those games.

Nimmo cited the turning point as a team meeting on May 29 after the Los Angeles Dodgers completed a three-game sweep that left the Mets at 22-33.

“It’s been a tale of two seasons, even in that first half,” he said. “You’ve seen a team that’s played really, really good baseball since that team meeting and I think it’s given us a really good argument to go out there and try to make the playoffs.”

Mets starter Luis Severino allowed four runs and eight hits in seven innings. Houston’s Shawn Dubin, starting a bullpen game, pitched 3 1/3 hitless innings and issued three walks.

Jon Singleton gave Houston the lead in the second inning with his sixth home run of the season and first since May 21. Yainer Diaz hit an RBI single in a two-run fifth inning that included Meyers’ hit, and Altuve hit an RBI single in the sixth inning for a 4-0 lead.

Held hitless for five innings, the Mets cut the deficit in the sixth against Seth Martinez on Vientos’ two-out, two-run double off leaping third baseman Alex Bregman.

Nimmo tied the score in the seventh with his 13th homer this season, a two-run drive off Bryan Abreu.

New York optioned right-hander Tylor Megill and left-hander Danny Young to Triple-A Syracuse, and selected the contracts of left-handers Tyler Jay and Festa from its top farm team. Outfielder Duke Ellis was designated for assignment and left-hander Brooks Raley (elbow inflammation) was transferred to the 60-day IL.

Closer Edwin Díaz served the fifth game of a 10-game suspension for using banned grip substances. New York’s bullpen was thin a day after blowing a 6-1 lead in a 9-6 loss.

“We saw it yesterday and today,” New York manager Carlos Mendoza said. “We knew at some point we were going to face some form of adversity here. »

TRAINERS ROOM

Astros: RHP Jake Bloss (right shoulder discomfort) threw a 20-pitch bullpen.

Mets: Diaz threw batting practice against the Class A Brooklyn Cyclones. Barring rain, he can return July 6.

FOLLOWING

Astros: Right-handed pitcher Hunter Brown (5-5, 4.37 ERA) starts Game 1 of the series Monday in Toronto, alongside right-handed pitcher Yariel Rodriguez (0-2, 5.94 ERA).

Mets: LHP David Peterson (3-0, 3.67 ERA) will take the mound Monday night for the Mets in Washington, and the Nationals will pitch with LHP MacKenzie Gore (6-7, 3.60 ERA).

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