The Mets responded with Austin Adams.
But more importantly, the Mets got a hit.
Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor led the offense, scoring nine runs on 11 hits and two home runs (four more than their total during their four-game losing streak) to lead the Athletics to a 9-1 victory on Wednesday in front of 28,288 fans at Citi Field, ending their losing streak.
The Mets had not won or even had a lead since Thursday in Colorado and were in danger of tying their longest losing streak of the season, but after being outscored 31-5 in four games, they rallied and got revenge.
The Mets, who escaped a crisis on Tuesday when veteran Athletics reliever Adams took advantage of a Mets’ arm-raising “OMG” gesture — even as Lindor glanced toward Adams — scored three runs in the first four innings and then added six in the seventh to extend their lead.
As he rounded the bases for his third-inning home run, Lindor glanced toward the bullpen and raised his arms in the air, waving them, appearing to send a message with a dance move.
He denied aiming the ball at the opposing bullpen, claiming it was aimed at his own, but one night after the Mets were getting beaten by Adams, they took to the field more aggressively, for reasons they didn’t want to disclose.
“I thought the energy was really good overall today,” Carlos Mendoza said on a night that saw constant dancing and slaps in the air. “From the first base hit, [Jesse] Blinker [celebrating with air-slaps] “From the dugout to the bullpen, the guys came out today. There was a different energy than usual. It was just different across the board.”
The Mets took the lead in the second inning when Mark Vientos hit a double over the glove of third baseman Darrell Hernais, scoring a run.
One inning later, Lindor ripped a fastball from Joey Estes and smashed it into right field for his 100th career Mets home run.
The Mets took control in the fourth inning when Alonso hit a sweeper off Estes into the deep left field stands for his 26th home run of the year.
The Mets took control in the seventh inning, sending 10 batters to the plate. Alonso, who had gone 1-for-16 with 9 strikeouts during his four-game losing streak, hit a two-run double in the inning, marking his fourth hit of the day in four at-bats.
“He’s going to be a big part of our day-to-day success as we make a push for the postseason,” Lindor said of Alonso, whose OPS has risen to .804. “We need Pete to continue to be Pete Alonso. He’s one of the best power hitters in baseball.”
Alonso, whose nose was red after rubbing it in the dirt while making a diving stop on a ground ball on Tuesday, laughed and said he felt “great.” He said he feels good when the ball hits the grass and even better when it lands in the stands.
If there’s one thing the Mets can do to take their wild-card hopes to the next level, it’ll likely be Alonso’s hitting ability.
“He can carry the team,” Mendoza said of his first baseman, who has struggled this season. “We’re hoping Pete can get better and carry the team for a few weeks. … If he gets better, it’ll take a little bit of pressure off the other guys.”
Other players also played well. In the seventh inning, Vientos, Ben Gamel and Francisco Alvarez all walked, before Lindor (2-for-5, 1 home run, 2 RBIs) hit a one-run RBI single.
Gamel scored on a wild pitch, Alvarez on a sacrifice fly by Brandon Nimmo and Lindor on a double by J.D. Martinez to score in the kind of inning the Mets (62-58) had been waiting for almost a week. David Peterson (one run in 6 1/3 innings), Huascar Brazovan, Danny Young and Adam Ottavino provided plenty of support.
If there was anything disappointing Wednesday, it was that Adams, who suddenly became Queens’ nemesis, was left in the bullpen.
The Mets wouldn’t admit it, but they came out with more energy, more dancing and one more win than they had in their previous four games.
“We just needed to fight back,” Alonso said, perhaps referring to the slump or the Athletics’ relief pitchers. “We try to give it our all every day, but I think this was a really important game for us.”
