Mets Extend Win Streak to Six with 14-2 Rout of Rangers

DJ Stewart’s three-run homer and Brandon Nimmo’s two-run shot highlighted a barrage of hits as the New York Mets secured their sixth consecutive win with a 14-2 rout of the Texas Rangers on Monday night.

The Mets recorded 22 hits, including five for extra bases, marking their highest total since notching 23 against Atlanta in August 2019. It was the first time since August 2018 that five Mets players each tallied at least three hits in a game.

“Right now, we’re riding a good wave. Hitting’s contagious and it seems like we are in one of those stages where everything’s coming our way,” leadoff batter Francisco Lindor said. “We’ve just got to continue to ride as long as we can.”

Lindor contributed significantly, going 4 for 4 with three singles and a double, scoring three runs and driving in two RBIs—all within the first five innings. Pete Alonso added three singles, two of which drove in runs.

Rangers starter Jon Gray, who had a 1.53 ERA over his previous 12 games, suspected he was tipping pitches.

“It seemed like they knew what was coming,” Gray said. “I’m just not sure what it is.”

Nimmo’s two-run homer with no outs in the fourth inning extended the Mets’ lead to 9-2 and forced Gray (2-3) out of the game. Gray conceded nine singles and two homers, resulting in his ERA rising from 2.17 to 3.31. Nimmo also had two RBI singles, making it his fourth consecutive multi-hit game, during which he is 10 for 16.

Reigning World Series champion Texas (33-39) has now lost four consecutive games and 22 of their last 33. The Rangers are a season-worst six games under .500 and nine games behind AL West-leading Seattle, which swept them last weekend.

“We’ll get this figured out here,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “We had a really good pitcher out there that’s done a great job for us that had an off night. … A lot of pitches over the heart of the plate.”

The Mets, having won 12 of their last 16 games, matched their season-high winning streak with this victory.

David Peterson (3-0) became the first Mets pitcher this season to win three consecutive starts. The left-hander allowed two runs over six innings, striking out six and walking three in his fourth start since offseason hip surgery.

Playing at Globe Life Field for the first time and in Texas for the first time since 2017, the Mets (34-37) already had eight singles before Stewart’s three-run homer with two outs in the second inning extended their lead to 7-0. Lindor reached on a single just before Nimmo’s eighth homer of the season.

“Guys were making really, really good contact on pitches in the zone,” Nimmo said. “Even the ones that weren’t the greatest contact, they’re finding some grass. And, there’s days like that, and there’s a reason that you don’t get 22 hits in the big leagues every single day. A lot of things have to go right in order for that to happen.”

Gray’s outing, during which he threw 42 of 55 pitches for strikes, matched his career highs for earned runs and hits allowed in a game. He had previously allowed only 10 earned runs over 58 2/3 innings, despite a 15-day stint on the injured list due to a right groin strain.

Rangers catcher Andrew Knizner made his second scoreless relief appearance in a week, pitching the final 1 1/3 innings after throwing 1 2/3 innings in their 15-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers last Tuesday.