A sweep moment finally arrived for the Mets, with their shiny new toy as an integral component.
It took until their 14th series this season. The Mets had been swept four times during that stretch, but their own sweep aspirations were unfulfilled.
On Thursday they brandished their bats for the second time in three days since rookie A.J. Ewing’s arrival from Triple-A Syracuse. Their three-game sweep of the Tigers was complete with a 9-4 victory at Citi Field.
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Ewing blasted his first major league homer as part of a barrage that let the Mets begin contemplating this weekend’s Subway Series in a positive mindset. Brett Baty, Mark Vientos, Juan Soto and Marcus Semien also went deep on a day the Mets established a season-high with five homers.
Ewing, a 21-year-old outfielder, had a major league debut series to remember, which included reaching base four times in his first game on Tuesday, scoring the winning run in the 10th inning a night later and then clearing the fence for the first time in Thursday’s third inning.
Just maybe, the Mets (18-25) have found the energy boost they need to get their season on track. Winning at least two games in Queens against the Yankees this weekend might bolster that notion.
Nolan McLean got the Mets through the seventh after a rough first inning. The rookie right-hander allowed three earned runs on six hits and three walks with seven strikeouts.
McLean sank the Mets into a first-inning hole by allowing a three-run homer to Gage Workman. McLean surrendered a walk and single before giving up his fourth homer of the season and second in as many starts.
Ewing began the comeback by clearing the right-field fence against Keider Montero leading off the third.
Baty hit a two-run homer in the fourth that tied it 3-3. The homer, Baty’s second this season, followed a two-out walk to MJ Melendez.
Soto stroked an RBI single in the fifth that gave the Mets the lead. Carson Benge singled and stole second to ignite the rally. Vientos launched a two-run homer that gave the Mets a 6-3 lead. It was the fourth homer in 10 games for Vientos, who began the day with an .811 OPS in May.
Hayden Senger, on a safety squeeze, bunted in a run in the sixth that extended the Mets’ lead to 7-3. The knockout punch was delivered by Soto and Semien, who each homered later.
