The Mets need some unlikely heroes right now and they got on Wednesday in the form of DJ Stewart.
The outfielder hit two runs home to bring his total to three in the last 48 hours to help the Mets slug past the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-3 on Wednesday afternoon at Citi Field. Pete Alonso also hit his 36th home run to move into sole possession all-time of 10th place on the franchise’s all-time RBI career RBI list with 465.
After dropping two of three during the worst stretch of the season in Pittsburgh (54-67) in June, the Mets (55-66) took this series by the same score.
“I’m just glad that we got the win and I could contribute offensively and defensively,” Stewart said.
Stewart sparked a second-inning rally with a leadoff shot off right-hander Johan Oviedo (6-13). The Mets went up 3-0 in the inning thanks to a two-run double by Francisco Lindor, but the Pirates came right back to score two in the top of the third.
In the fifth, the visitors went to the bullpen after Oviedo walked Alonso to lead off the inning. Ryan Borucki retired Jeff McNeil before walking Daniel Vogelbach and giving up a massive, three-run bomb to Stewart to pad the Mets’ lead.
Stewart has recently added in a toe-tap to his swing, which helped him earn a call-up in July and stick with the Mets this summer.
“In my career, I’ve been a guy who doesn’t really stride forward,” Stewart said. “I was having a tough time staying back, so we started the toe-tap as a drill in Triple-A with the hitting coach down there and it translated into the game. I love where it’s gotten me.”
Alonso took left-hander Jose Hernandez over the left-center fence to lead off the bottom of the seventh.
“These are times where veteran players establish some really good examples,” said manager Buck Showalter.
It was a great game for Alonso and especially great for Stewart, who along with Araúz, Ortega, infielder Danny Mendick and outfielder Tim Locastro are all trying to show that they are worthy of a Major League roster spot and a job next season.
“Regardless of what it means for the team, there’s some individual stuff that they want to establish too,” said manager Buck Showalter. “Through that, the team can benefit. These guys know what’s at stake for the offseason and next year. I think they’re all trying to run with it.”
The most encouraging part of the day might have been the improvements shown by right-hander Tylor Megill, though Showalter was quick to temper any excitement about a five-inning performance. It came on the heels of two short starts by Carlos Carrasco and David Peterson. The Mets have had to do quite a bit of maneuvering in the bullpen to keep it stocked.
“There’s still another level we’ve seen that he can get to,” Showalter said. “The command — throwing 90-plus pitches he was fortunate to get through all the traffic and the walks. he’s better than that. I guess he got the win in five innings. In some ways, I thought he might have pitched a little better the last two innings. He was good enough today.”
There were still some inefficiencies and bad counts, but Megill still trended in the right direction, especially compared to his last two starts when he gave up a total 10 earned runs against the Baltimore Orioles and Atlanta Braves (five in each start).
Megill (7-6) allowed baserunners in the first and second innings before Pittsburgh got to him in the third. Ke’Bryan Hayes led off with a double and Bryan Reynolds homered. But he gave the Pirates nothing further. Megill retired the side in order in the fourth and got out of the fifth with the help of an outfield assist from Jeff McNeil.
Megill held the Pirates to just two earned runs on five hits, he walked two and struck out five to pick up his first win since June 16. It felt like progress.
“I was still filling up the zone,” Megill said. “There were a few walks today but it was competitive.”
Like the rest of the Mets’ starting staff, Megill has been unable to find any sort of consistency this weekend and the organization hasn’t been able to figure out why one of their most important young pitchers has taken a step back in his development. But they need to figure it out as Megill and left-hander David Peterson are important pieces for the future.
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Source: Berkshire mont
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