McNeil Blast refreshes Houston in 7-2 win

Maybe the gift has arrived Jeff McNeil while going.

Houston Astros shortstop was miked Jeremy Pena misinterpreted a routine pop-up during the second round while chatting with the Apple TV+ broadcast booth. McNeil, who entered Friday hitting .170 in June and .213 this season, was credited with an infield single after the ball bounced past Peña and behind the third baseman. Alex Bregmanwho seemed to have given in thinking that Peña had asked for it. A frustrated Peña told the booth that it was “miscommunication.”

McNeil didn’t stop there. In the sixth inning, he hit a three-run homer over the right-side wall to continue Ronel Blanco and helping the New York Mets to a 7-2 victory against the Astros (40-41) at Citi Field. The Mets (40-39) have now won 12 of their last 14 games and are averaging above .500 for the first time since May 2. In doing so, they ended the Astros’ seven-game winning streak.

The two teams didn’t approach Friday as mirror images, but they were surprisingly close.

They both entered with a .500 record, with each team arriving there Wednesday after falling double-digit games below the breakeven mark in May. They both picked up the pace in June, with New York going 15-6 and Houston 15-7, which represented the best records in their respective leagues this month.

The leaders – Carlos Mendoza And Joe Espada – were double-play partners in independent ball during their playing days according to an excellent article from The AthleticTo further maintain the similarities, both captains’ lineups feature hitters named Alvarez in the middle of the order.

Houston opened the scoring after Jose Altuve home run on the first pitch of the game Jose Quintana Before Francisco Alvarez tied the game with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning.

In the third, Houston Yordan Alvarez slipped safely in front of Francisco Alvarez’s tag attempt to give the Astros a 2-1 lead after a Peña single. Tyrone Taylor hit a solo homer to tie it at 2-2 in the fourth.

Quintana worked hard through four innings, allowing two runs on six hits and three walks while throwing 54 of 93 pitches for strikes, striking out seven batters along the way.

Pete Alonso McNeil hit a 419-foot solo home run in the sixth inning, his 17th of the season, to give the Mets a 3-2 lead. A Bregman error on a ground ball later in the sixth inning with two outs extended the inning and allowed McNeil to deliver his big hit. It was McNeil’s fourth home run of the season and first at Citi Field.

Espada was later ejected by home plate umpire Jim Wolf for backing a strike called three to Jake Meyers in the seventh.

Francisco Lindor provided some late-inning insurance on an RBI double in the eighth. Adam Ottavino, Dedniel Nuñez, Jake Diekman And Reed Garrett combined for five scoreless innings of relief.

Like the cherry on the cake, Jose Iglesias came out of the clubhouse and performed his song “OMG” after the game, which was officially released today under the artist name Candelita. The song, which became both the home run song and the rallying cry for the Mets, brought the entire team onto the field as they celebrated and supported Iglesias just before the previously scheduled fireworks display began.

The atmosphere at Citi Field

pic.twitter.com/g1E5Y9m3ub

-Mike Mayer (@mikemayer22) June 29, 2024

Game Stats

The Mets have homered in 11 straight games. The three homers against Blanco were the first time the Astros pitcher has given up that many in a game this season.

Player of the match

McNeil finished 3 for 4 with a homer and two singles while scoring twice and driving in three runs.

On the bridge

The Mets will look to continue with Taylor Megill (2-4, 4.81 ERA) on the mound against a left-hander Framber Valdez (6-5, 3.68 ERA). The 4:10 p.m. ET game will be broadcast on WPIX.