WASHINGTON — Improving discipline at the plate was a big focus for Mark Vientos last offseason.
Two weeks after being recalled from Triple-A Syracuse, the Mets third baseman seems to understand the situation.
On Monday, he reached base four times and helped his team win 8-7 against the Nationals.
Vientos was 2-for-3 with one home run and two walks in the Mets’ 13-hit attack.
“it is [batting] “I get in the cage and I work really hard, including on flips,” says Vientos, who has an OPS of 1.070. “Flipping is easy, but sometimes you just have to stop doing that and start swinging at everything. Imagine you’re in a game and you’re throwing 90 mph and the other guy is flipping the ball at 20 mph. As soon as I get in the cage, I work really hard and tell myself to swing for strikes.”
Vientos led off the fourth inning against Mackenzie Gore, giving him his fifth home run of the season, three of which came against left-handed pitchers.
“Honestly, I didn’t think I hit it until I saw the velocity,” said Vientos, whose hit ball reached 104.7 mph. “And then I thought, ‘OK, that’s a pretty good hit.'”
Mendoza said Francisco Alvarez will not play with the Mets for the two games against the Phillies in London this weekend, but he could return from the disabled list for the following home game.
The catcher, returning from surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb, has appeared in three games for Double-A Binghamton since beginning his rehab assignment.
Luis Torrens, who was acquired in a trade with the Yankees on Friday, played catcher for the second consecutive game on Monday.
The Mets also have veteran Tomas Nido, who has handled most of the catching duties in Alvarez’s absence.
Drew Smith was made fully available to pitch, a day after manager Mendoza said relief pitchers were only an emergency option.
Mendoza was asked why Smith was activated from injured reserve on Sunday when he was only available as an emergency.
Mendoza said Smith’s limited playing time was an advantage for the Mets over Josh Walker, who pitched the day before.
Walker was sent to Triple-A Syracuse in a corresponding roster move.
