DJ Stewart smashed a three-run homer, and Brandon Nimmo also hit a home run amidst a flurry of singles as the New York Mets extended their winning streak to six games with a convincing 14-2 victory over the Texas Rangers on Monday night.
The Mets pounded out 22 hits, including five for extra bases, marking their highest hit total since August 2019 when they had 23 against Atlanta. It was the first time since August 2018 in Philadelphia that five Mets players recorded at least three hits in a game.
“We’re on a good roll right now. Hitting becomes contagious, and it feels like everything is going our way,” remarked leadoff hitter Francisco Lindor, who went 4 for 4 with three singles, a double, three runs scored, and two RBIs in the first five innings. “We just need to keep this momentum going as long as we can.”
Pete Alonso contributed with three singles, two of which drove in runs.
Rangers starter Jon Gray, who had been performing well with a 1.53 ERA over his previous 12 games, admitted he might have been tipping his pitches.
“It felt like they knew what I was throwing,” Gray said. “I’m not sure what the issue was.”
Nimmo’s two-run homer in the fourth inning extended the Mets’ lead to 9-2 and ended Gray’s night. Gray allowed nine singles and two home runs in his outing. Nimmo also added two RBI singles, continuing his hot streak with his fourth consecutive multi-hit game, during which he has gone 10 for 16.
The defending World Series champion Rangers (33-39) have now lost four straight and 22 of their last 33 games. They are currently six games below .500 for the season and nine games behind the AL West-leading Seattle Mariners, who swept them in their previous series.
“We’ll figure this out,” said manager Bruce Bochy. “We had a quality pitcher on the mound who’s been great for us, but he had an off night. … A lot of pitches ended up over the heart of the plate.”
The Mets have now won 12 of their last 16 games, matching their season-high winning streak of six games.
