The Mets’ moves at the trade deadline were largely unremarkable, and were largely similar to the approach the front office took when putting together their team last winter.
Perhaps Exhibit A is Sean Manaea, the only free agent the club signed to a multiyear contract (two years, $28 million).
Manaea has been practicing well and looked like an elite athlete on Tuesday night.
The left-hander pitched his best game of the season, pitching seven scoreless innings, and the Mets beat the Twins, 2-0, at Citi Field for their second straight win.
Prior to the game, the team completed trades aimed at strengthening its rotation and relief corps, acquiring starting pitcher Paul Blackburn from the Athletics and relief pitchers Juáscar Brazovan and Tyler Zuber from the Marlins and Rays, respectively.
Manaea allowed just two hits and one walk while striking out a season-high 11 batters before Ryne Stanek and Edwin Diaz combined for the final six outs.
Diaz reached base with the tying run in the eighth inning and struck out Byron Buxton before giving up 13 hits in 1 1/3 innings.Number keep.
The Mets (57-50) are seven games better than .500 for just the second time this season and will look to complete their series winning streak on Wednesday before heading to the West Coast.
Manaea’s appearance followed a strong performance the night before from Jose Quintana, who held the Twins to one run over six innings. Manaea relied heavily on his sinker, allowing two singles on the night to Brooks Lee and Carlos Santana.
Offensively, the Mets were quiet after scoring 15 points the night before, but managed to get by with just five hits.
JD Martinez hit an RBI single in the fourth inning to score the first run of the game.
Brandon Nimmo walked, advanced to second on a balk and to third on a wild pitch before Martinez singled to give him 47 RBI for the season.
Mark Vientos gave the Mets a 2–0 lead in the top of the fifth inning with a home run, his third in seven games and third in 15 games.Number Overall this season.
The next batter, Jeff McNeil, was hit by David Festa and left on second base.
Festa, a Verona, New Jersey native who attended Seton Hall University, pitched five innings, allowing three hits and two earned runs, striking out six and walking one. It was the right-hander’s fourth major league appearance and third as a starter.
