Mets scratch out win over Jays, snag wild-card lead

Field Level Media|published: Mon 9th September, 22:12 2024

Sep 9, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays pinch runner Brian Serven (15) beats the throw to New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (4) to score from third on a sacrifice fly by Toronto Blue Jays left fielder Nathan Lukes (not pictured) during the seventh inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

The visiting New York Mets scored on a wild pitch and then on a passed ball in a two-run eighth inning and defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2 on Monday night.

The Mets (79-65), who had a nine-game winning streak end on Sunday, took a one-game lead over the Braves in the race for the last National League wild-card position. Atlanta lost 1-0 to the Cincinnati Reds on Monday.

Toronto (68-77) fell for the sixth time in seven games.

Mets right-hander Tylor Megill allowed no runs, one hit and two walks in six innings. Megill, starting after Paul Blackburn was scratched pregame due to a tight back, matched his season high with nine strikeouts.

Toronto opened with right-hander Ryan Burr, who fanned three and hit a batter in two hitless, scoreless innings.

The Blue Jays' second pitcher, Luis Frias, retired four in a row before Ryan Yarbrough took over with one out in the fourth. Yarbrough walked Pete Alonso with two outs, then hit Jose Iglesias with a pitch before J.D. Martinez stroked an RBI single to right for a 1-0 lead.

After giving up a two-out walk to load the bases in the first inning, Megill the last 16 batters he faced.

Danny Young replaced Megill in the home seventh. He hit pinch hitter Davis Schneider with a pitch with one out, and Alejandro Kirk followed with a single to right.

Jose Butto replaced Young and allowed pinch hitter Ernie Clement's single to left that loaded the bases. Leo Jimenez was hit by a pitch to force in the tying run. Nathan Lukes hit a sacrifice fly to left that scored pinch runner Brian Serven with the go-ahead run.

Toronto's Tommy Nance (0-1) walked pinch hitter Jesse Winker to open the eighth. Francisco Alvarez dribbled an infield hit to third, and pinch runner Tyrone Taylor continued to third when Clement threw wildly to first. Francisco Lindor walked to load the bases.

A wild pitch scored Taylor with the tying run. Pinch runner Eddy Alvarez came home with the go-ahead run one out later when on a passed ball eluded Serven.

New York's Ryne Stanek (7-3) struck out the side in the bottom of the eighth.

Edwin Diaz pitched around an infield single in the ninth to earn his 17th save.

New York acquired infielder Alvarez from the Boston Red Sox in a cash deal and designated infielder Pablo Reyes for assignment.

--Field Level Media