Mets 3-2 Blue Jays (September 9, 2024) Match Report

TORONTO — Tyrone Taylor scored the tying point with a wild pitch in the eighth inning before fellow runner Eddy Alvarez sprinted home a passed ball and the New York Mets defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2 on Monday night for their 10th win in 11 games.

“Today was a good team win,” said Mets manager Carlos Mendoza. “When things were tough for us, we found a way to get one.”

New York rebounded after its nine-game winning streak was snapped by Cincinnati on Sunday and now sits one game ahead of Atlanta for the National League's final wild card. The Braves' rivals lost 1-0 at home to the Reds after being shut down by rain in July.

The surging Mets managed six hitless innings with relief starter Tylor Megill, who retired his final 16 batters and set a season-high nine strikeouts.

“It was a great feeling tonight,” said Megill. “Everything worked.”

The Mets were trailing 1-2 at the start of the eighth inning against reliever Tommy Nance (0-1). Pinch hitter Jesse Winker received a walk and was replaced by Taylor.

Francisco Alvarez reached first base with an infield single, Taylor advanced to third on a throwing error, and Francisco Lindor walked the bases before Eddy Alvarez walked for Francisco Alvarez.

Taylor scored when Nance bounced a pitch to Mark Vientos, and a second run came on a passed ball from catcher Brian Serven.

“We shot ourselves in the foot,” said Blue Jays manager John Schneider. “We did ourselves no favors.”

Eddy Alvarez was acquired from Boston in a minor league trade for cash on Sunday and was selected to the major league roster on Monday.

Ryne Stanek (7-3) struck out the team in the eighth inning and Edwin Díaz made his 17th save in 23 chances by getting Leo Jiménez to fly out to the warning track and leave a runner on first base.

“Right off the bat, we couldn't tell because he was hitting the ball pretty well,” Mendoza said. “When I saw (right fielder Starling) Marte kind of camped out there, I thought, OK.”

Megill started in place of right-hander Paul Blackburn, who was expected to return from the injured list and face the Blue Jays. Instead, Blackburn will miss the series because of lower back soreness, Mendoza said.

After drawing walks around Spencer Horwitz's double in the first inning, Megill escaped a tight bases-loaded situation by forcing Alejandro Kirk to ground out.

That was the first in a streak of 16 consecutive outs for Megill, who did not allow another baserunner.

“He had the game pretty much completely under control,” Mendoza said.

Toronto was able to overcome a 0-1 deficit by scoring two runs against two Mets relief pitchers in the seventh inning.

Left-hander Danny Young left the field after hitting Davis Schneider with a pitch and allowing a single to Kirk. Jose Buttó allowed a single, hit Jiménez with a pitch with the bases loaded and allowed a sacrifice fly by Nathan Lukes.

Buttó escaped by striking out George Springer on a 3-2 pitch.

The Mets took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning on JD Martinez's RBI single against left-hander Ryan Yarbrough.

Squad changes

Mets: INF Pablo Reyes was designated for assignment.

TRAINING ROOM

Blue Jays: Schneider said DH Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was X-rayed after several fouls on his left foot, but there was no fracture. Guerrero went 0 for 3 with one walk. … SS Bo Bichette (right calf) will begin a rehab program at Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday, Schneider said. Bichette has been out since July 19.

Next

Blue Jays RHP Chris Bassitt (9-13, 4.30 ERA) is scheduled to face his former team on Tuesday night. LHP David Peterson (9-1, 2.75) plays for the Mets.

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