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'Overall good baseball' fuels Mets' recent winning ways

garrett stepien
·2 min read
7
Aug 21, 2023; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; New York Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil (1) first baseman Pete Alonso (20) shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) and second baseman Jonathan Arauz (19) react after defeating the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

The Mets have won seven of their past nine games. The latest victory in that stretch, Monday's 10-4 win over the Braves, saw New York (59-67) scrap and claw its way to a convincing result as it begins a three-game series at MLB-best Atlanta (80-44).

On the Truist Park field with SNY's Steve Gelbs after the game, Francisco Lindor -- whose three-run homer in the sixth inning polished off an emphatic stretch of seven unanswered runs -- put the Mets' recent trend into perspective.

"We kind of changed the way we're playing the game," Lindor said. "We're running the bases. We're playing better defense. Today we saw it. ... We're playing overall good baseball, and that's what happens -- when you're overall playing good baseball, the pitchers are getting ahead. We're doing our job, and we have been fortunate to come out with good wins."

Buck Showalter credited the approach in his handful of leaders around the clubhouse, including Lindor.

"Intensity and the competitiveness -- the guys continue to show that guys are getting an opportunity ... and the guys that set the examples like Pete (Alonso) and Jeff (McNeil) and (Brandon) Nimm(o) and Lindor, they continue to play the game and guys are following that lead," he said. "It's not always what you say but your actions -- your actions speak so loudly I can't hear a word you say. So I've been proud of that."

As the Mets and Braves run it back with Tuesday's 7:20 p.m. start on SNY, New York has a chance to take a series against Atlanta for the first time since winning four out of five games last season from Aug. 4-8.

"Obviously, everyone knows what happened at the (MLB trade) deadline," said DJ Stewart. "There goes a little bit of a learning period, learning everyone, what everyone can do, whether you played with them in spring training or not. Just getting comfortable with everyone, I think you're kind of seeing that on the field.

"I mean, the clubhouse is upbeat and we're enjoying playing with each other. We're enjoying the time that we have with each other in the clubhouse, and I think you're seeing that on the field."