The relentless lineup the Mets may have envisioned when J.D. Martinez arrived in late April has struggled to develop, but days like Friday serve as a reminder that it’s still possible.
Francisco Lindor led off the lineup with three base hits and the guys behind him kept the pressure on nearly every inning.
That included Martinez hitting a home run for the second straight night as the ammo he needed in a 10-9 win over the Diamondbacks at Citi Field.
The Mets have won consecutive games for the first time since May 6th and 7th.
And the points scored were the second-highest total of the season.
Martinez, who hit a game-winning homer in the eighth inning the night before in what may have been his first big game in a Mets uniform, contributed to a 14-hit attack against Jordan Montgomery and the Arizona relievers.
“It is wonderful [Martinez] “He’s had success and is a real motivator and example for us,” manager Starling Marte said through a translator. “The way he prepares, the effort he puts in and seeing him have success and score goals will be a big help to the team.”
The win marked the Mets’ second straight victory since manager Lindor called a team meeting on Wednesday after the team lost three straight to the Dodgers.
Reid Garrett added some drama to the game in the ninth inning, giving up four runs on home runs off Joc Pederson and Christian Walker before recording the final out.
The Mets needed one last shot to survive.
“At some point, this was expected. Playing well at the plate, controlling the strike zone with hitters from top to bottom, walking batters, doing damage, getting some overall flow and getting some big hits. We know what we’re capable of and we’re seeing some really good signs right now,” manager Carlos Mendoza said.
Luis Severino had one of his toughest outings of the season, pitching 5 1/3 innings, allowing six hits, one walk and five runs (one earned).
The right-hander was hit hard, with nine of the balls recorded at over 95 mph.
But Severino, whose pitching velocity dropped early on, said he wasn’t feeling well and ate honey-flavored “gummy bears” to regain his energy.
Severino gave up three runs in the first inning on three hits, a balk and a hit-by-pitch hit. Pederson and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. each had one-run singles in the inning before the Diamondbacks extended their lead to 3-0 on a fielder’s choice hit by Jake McCarthy.
But the Mets attacked Montgomery in the bottom of the inning, doing some serious damage with a grand slam by Marte.
Mark Vientos’ RBI single gave the Mets a 4-3 lead.
Lindor walked as the leadoff batter, Brandon Nimmo doubled, and then Martinez walked to load the bases.
Marte’s hit into the gap in left-center field was his second triple of the season.
“I think that was one of the most important parts of the game was us scoring and getting the lead back,” Nimmo said.
Lindor hit an RBI double in the second inning to extend the Mets’ lead to 5-3.
Tomas Nido led off the inning with a double, and Lindor hit the Mets’ fifth hit in two innings after pitching four hits from four at-bats the night before.
In the third inning, Nido was called for catcher interference while Pederson was at home plate, and the Diamondbacks cut the lead to 5-4 on an RBI fielder’s choice by Gurriel.
On that play, a throwing error by Jose Iglesias allowed Gurriel to advance to second base with two outs, before Severino got McCarthy out.
But a walk by Nido in the leadoff of the fourth inning set up another big inning for the Mets: Pete Alonso hit an RBI double after Nido advanced to second on a wild pitch, and Martinez reached base on a fielding error by shortstop Kevin Newman.
Marte and Vientos each hit one-run singles to extend the Mets’ lead to 8-4.
Montgomery pitched just four innings, allowing eight runs (two earned) on nine hits, three walks and four strikeouts.
Severino was replaced after giving up a solo home run to Eugenio Suarez in the sixth inning with the Diamondbacks trailing 8-5.
It was the fifth home run Severino has allowed this season, but has allowed three in his previous four starts.
Martinez hit a home run to right field in the sixth inning to score the Mets’ final run.
“My batting line-up was good from the first inning and helped me out today,” Severino said. “I wanted to pitch a shutout, but it was a struggle today.”
