Slumping Leody Taveras hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the seventh inning to help the struggling Texas Rangers post a 5-3 victory over the streaking New York Mets on Wednesday night at Arlington, Texas.
Wyatt Langford had two hits and two RBIs for the Rangers, who snapped a five-game skid while halting New York’s season-best seven-game winning streak.
Taveras was just 3-for-49 this month when he came up against Drew Smith (1-1) with two outs in the seventh and Corey Seager on first. On the seventh pitch of the at-bat, Taveras smacked the decisive homer to right center, his fifth blast of the season.
Pete Alonso slugged a two-run homer for the Mets and has 10 RBIs over the last four games. But New York had just five hits two nights after racking up a season-best 22.
Jose Urena (3-5) gave up one hit over two scoreless innings, and Kirby Yates set the Mets down in order in the ninth for his 11th save. The Rangers averted a three-game sweep and won for just the fifth time in the past 15 games despite being no-hit for the first 5 1/3 innings by Sean Manaea.
The Mets lost for just the third in their last 14 games.
New York’s J.D. Martinez drew a one-out walk in the sixth off Andrew Heaney, before Alonso followed with a booming 427-foot homer to center. Alonso’s 16th blast gave the Mets a 3-1 lead.
Manaea struck out Seager to start the bottom of the sixth, the 14th straight hitter he retired. Robbie Grossman followed with a single to left for the first hit off Manaea.
With two outs, Josh Smith ripped a double into the right field corner to score Grossman. Langford then stroked an RBI single to knot the score at 3.
Manaea allowed three runs and two hits in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out six and walked three.
Heaney struck out a season-high nine in six innings. He gave up three runs on four hits and two walks.
All three of Manaea’s walks came in the first inning, and then he hit Langford to force in Texas’ first run.
New York tied the score in the fourth when Brandon Nimmo led off with a double and scored on Starling Marte’s one-out double later in the inning.
–Field Level Media
