McNeil ends home run drought, Mets surpass .500 by beating Astros

NEW YORK (AP) — Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil homered in the sixth inning Friday night, propelling the New York Mets to a 7-2 victory over the Houston Astros and moving them above .500 for the first time since May 2.

The Mets are 18-6 since May 30 — the day after the players’ team meeting following a 10-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers — improving to 40-39.

It’s the fourth time in team history that New York has crossed the .500 mark after being at least 11 games below the breakeven mark.

“I think we’re just in a good place,” McNeil said. “We play solid baseball. This team is good. This team can do some pretty special things. Back above .500, which is huge.

Alonso broke a 2-2 tie with a one-out homer against Astros starter Ronel Blanco (8-3) – his first round-tripper since June 19 and only his third since June 5.

McNeil ended an even longer drought with a 346-foot, three-run home run just over the right-field fence. The second baseman has 12 hits in 83 at-bats (.145) since his last home run against Cleveland on May 22.

“I thought it was going to fall around the corner,” McNeil said with a smile. “I knew it was extra bases, for sure. There’s no better feeling once the ball hits the front 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 hitters through Friday night.

“My year is not what I want it to be and it’s going to be very difficult to save up,” McNeil said. “But what I can do right now is show up every day at the ballpark, play well, even if I can be a .300 hitter from here on out and lead this team, hopefully, to the playoffs.”

Tyrone Taylor homered, Francisco Lindor hit a double and Francisco Alvarez added a sacrifice fly.

Jose Quintana allowed two runs in four-plus innings in front of 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 to 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 victory.

“We’re saying the guys are going to have to step up and they did today, especially on a night where there was a battle for Quintana,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said.

Jose Altuve hit his 39th career home run for the Astros, who saw their seven-game winning streak snap and fell to 40-41 in their attempt to surpass the .500 mark for the first time this season. Houston had just five hits in 26 at-bats with runners on base.

“We had opportunities to score a lot of runs and we did it very well the last few weeks, getting some big hits with runners in scoring position,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “It wasn’t the case today, but we’re going to turn the page and be ready to play tomorrow. »

Jeremy Peña had an RBI single in the third, a half-inning after misplaying a pop-up while conducting an in-game interview.

Yordan Alvarez had three hits and a walk in five plate appearances.

Blanco allowed six runs (three earned) in 5 2/3 innings.

Espada was ejected after Jake Meyers struck out in the seventh.

“I thought the strike zone was a little too big,” Espada said.

SING IT

After the game, infielder Jose Iglesias performed his 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 as the song ended.

“The script was perfect,” said Iglesias, who said he wouldn’t have performed the song if the Mets had lost. “The fans appreciated it. The team appreciated it. Great ‘W’ for the team. It was just a special night overall.

Mendoza and Mets players wore “OMG” T-shirts before and after the game. The song has become the team’s victory anthem and is played every time a New York player hits a home run at Citi Field.

“I love it,” Mendoza said before the game. “He’s got a pretty good rhythm. It’s a good day for him and for all of us here.”

TRAINERS’ ROOM

Astros: RHP Luis Garcia (Tommy John surgery) began a rehab assignment Friday and needed just 12 pitches to throw 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 off his shin on June 3.

Mets: Right-handed starting pitcher Drew Smith (sprained right elbow) believes he’ll need 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 experiencing elbow stiffness during a June 26 appearance and struggled to get free Sunday night, when he got two outs in the ninth inning against the Cubs before being removed. … Right-handed starting pitcher Kodai Senga (right shoulder) is expected to throw a workout Sunday before beginning a rehab assignment next week.

FOLLOWING

Mets RHP Tylor Megill (2-4, 4.81 ERA) faces Astros LHP Framber Valdez (6-5, 3.68 ERA) on Saturday.

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AP Major League Baseball: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb