Zack Wheeler’s continued success and Jay Bruce’s team-leading 14th and 15th home runs drove the New York Mets to a 4-3 win in Texas tonight.

  • Final Score: Mets 4 (25-32), Rangers 3 (27-32)
  • W: Jerry Blevins (3-0)
  • L: Matt Bush (2-1)
  • S: Addison Reed (9)
  • NL, Final, Box Score
  • Globe Life Park, Arlington, Texas

Another Crazy Finish

After Lucas Duda hit a one-out double in the top of the ninth off Texas Rangers’ closer Matt Bush, he was pinch run for by Matt Reynolds who, three at-bats later, scored the game-winning run following a spiked Rougned Odor throw and Elvis Andrus bobble at second base, where Curtis Granderson was called safe to extend the inning.

Closer Addison Reed followed up the very New York Mets-like rally with a 1-2-3 save for his ninth of the year, including a K of OF Ryan Rua to open the bottom half of the last frame.

Bruce Almighty

The Mets mustered just four hits in scoring their four runs on the evening, but Jay Bruce made his two knocks count, as the southpaw smacked both a solo shot and two-run homer, both off of Rangers’ ace Yu Darvish.

The duo of bombs from Bruce bring him to 15 home runs on the still relatively young 2017 campaign, putting him on pace to pass his 33 of last season.

Bruce also now sports 40 RBIs this year, showing how much he has carried the Mets’ lineup with star Cuban slugger Yoenis Cespedes out for a prolonged length with a pulled hamstring.

The Wheel-Deal

Zack Wheeler cruised through seven innings tonight in Arlington, allowing a single run on six hits and three walks, while striking out five.

The former San Francisco Giants’ sixth overall pick allowed just one extra base hit —  a double to Odor — and held the Rangers to a .111 average with runners in scoring position.

After coming off of two seasons on the sidelines this year, Wheeler has most definitely been the Mets’ best and most consistent rotation member, with tonight’s start bringing his season ERA to 3.45.

Actually, over his last six starts and 34 innings tossed, the right-hander has produced a 2.65 ERA and 30 strikeouts.

But, as was the case tonight following a game-tying two-run home run from Robinson Chirinos off Jerry Blevins, the bullpen often fails Wheeler late, leading to just two wins over that span to his name over that span.

But what is perhaps the most supportive sign that Wheeler is near his former glory as a starter is that he was able to consistently throw a mid-90s fastball, even after topping 100 pitches in the seventh.

Up Next for the Metropolitans

Matt Harvey and the Mets will continue their road trip and upward trend in Atlanta on Friday night at 7:35 p.m. The Braves, though, have yet to announce a projected opposing starter for the series opener.

 NEXT: Michael Conforto on the Verge of Becoming an All-Star Snub 

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Chris Thompson
Chris recently graduated with a Journalism degree from Montclair State University. Baseball is his love and he hopes to bring back some of the old-school popularity to the game. Chris Thompson covers the NY Jets and NY Mets for Elite Sports NY. You can interact with him on Twitter @Time2Topher.

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