ARLINGTON, Texas — The Mets’ recent success has been fueled not only by a booming batting lineup, but also by a bullpen that has turned respectable after a dismal May.
But on Wednesday night, they tried to shut out the fading defending World Series champions but couldn’t get the runs or the late hold they needed.
Drew Smith gave up a game-winning home run to Leody Taveras in the seventh inning, and the Mets never recovered afterward, losing 5-3 to the Rangers at Globe Life Field.
The Mets missed out on a second consecutive series sweep and said goodbye to a season-best seven-game winning streak.
The Mets’ relievers had a 1.40 ERA over their past 11 games, but Smith, who has been extremely reliable since returning from the disabled list earlier this month, was unable to get the final out in the seventh inning.
Taveras hit a 94 mph four-seam fastball on the seventh pitch of his at-bat, sending a two-run home run over the right-field fence that gave the Mets the difference in defeat.
Offensively, the Mets were quiet over the final three innings, managing just five hits.
The game broke a back-to-back series in which the Mets (35-38) scored a combined 32 runs in three games against the Padres and Rangers.
The Rangers got their first hit in the sixth inning against Sean Manaea on a Robbie Grossman single to left field.
The out ended a streak of 14 straight batters struck out by Manaea since the first inning. Manaea pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing three earned runs on two hits, three walks and one hit by pitch.
Manaea threw 36 pitches to complete the first inning, but only allowed one run.
With two outs, Manaea walked Grossman, Adoris Garcia and Josh Smith in succession to load the bases, then struck out Wyatt Langford with a single to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead.
But Manaea rebounded on a grounder by Nathaniel Lowe for the third out.
Starling Marte tied the game at 1-1 with a double off Andrew Heaney in the fourth inning.
Brandon Nimmo started the comeback with a check-swing double to left field, and J.D. Martinez walked on a full count with one out.
But following Marte’s double, Heaney struck out Mark Vientos and Francisco Alvarez to leave runners on second and third.
Heaney struck out two more batters in the fifth inning, Jose Iglesias and Harrison Bader, extending his strikeout streak to four before Francisco Lindor grounded out to leave the game.
Pete Alonso hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning to give the Mets a 3–1 lead.
Martinez reached base on a walk and Alonso hit his 16th home run of the season over the center field fence.
The night before, Alonso hit a game-winning RBI double in the ninth inning of the Mets’ 7-6 win.
Smith’s RBI double in the sixth inning put the Rangers within 3-2 and knocked out Manaea, who was close to ending the sixth inning with one out for the first time in six starts.
Sean Reid-Foley came on and allowed a single to Langford, tying the score at 3-3.
Rowe then walked, and Reid Foley got out of the inning by striking out Jonah Heim.
Grossman’s single, the Rangers’ first of the night, sparked the counterattack.
Alvarez singled in the top of the seventh, but pinch hitters Jeff McNeil and DJ Stewart were removed before Jose Urena struck out Lindor.
Smith walked Corey Seager with two outs in the seventh inning, then Taveras hit a single over the right-field fence to put the Mets up 5-3.
