Jeff McNeil finally showed glimpses of his former self on Friday night at Citi Field.
The two-time All-Star and 2022 Silver Slugger Award winner came out on top against the Astros, smashing a three-run homer in the sixth inning to give the Mets a 6-2 lead and a 7-2 victory, their fourth straight win.
“He needed it,” manager Carlos Mendoza said after the win. “I think it’s great for him because he’s been going through some pretty tough times lately. But I’ve been saying lately that he loves his at-bats, and today it finally came to fruition, and of course a three-run homer. It’s awesome. Credit to him.”
“I thought it was going to be on the corner,” McNeil said of the home run, “and I knew it was definitely a long hit, and when that ball got to first base, it was awesome.”
McNeil was having a terrible season hitting, with an OPS of .595, but he did have three hits in four at-bats, two runs scored, and three RBIs.
It was his first three-hit game since May 7 and his third three-hit game of the season. The home run was his first since May 22.
The game came after he hit a powerful liner against the Cubs in his previous four games and went two for four with two runs in Tuesday’s Mets-Yankees Subway Series. He hadn’t had a hit in his previous 15 at-bats.
“This year has been tough for me. I wasn’t happy with the way I was playing,” McNeil said. “I wasn’t sure exactly what changed in my swing, so it was frustrating, but I’ve worked really hard over the last week or so and a couple of people have told me some things that really clicked. … I’m feeling like myself. Hopefully I can get my confidence back and get through the rest of the year.”
Mendoza couldn’t pinpoint one specific reason why McNeil’s bat came to life, but said he must have “tried everything” and finally something clicked.
“The last four or five games, I’ve been swinging better, I’ve been hitting the ball better. I’m hitting a lot of liners that use the whole field, and obviously hit a pull home run today,” said Stanley. [first base] “The batting lineup is good,” the manager said. “So, the good hitters have adjusted, and now [it’s] It’s good to see him getting results.”
The home run, his fourth of the season, made up for the awkward early part of the game.
In his first at-bat, McNeil hit a pop fly toward third base that was dropped between Astros third baseman Alex Bregman and shortstop Jeremy Peña, who were mic’d up for the Apple TV+ broadcast but appeared to have a miscommunication.
After reaching first base safely, McNeil ruined his lucky streak by stepping over the base, finding himself in a tight spot between second and then eventually getting tagged out.
