With game-winning hit against Cubs, Jeff McNeil continues to build All-Star case

CHICAGO – Jeff McNeil is often reticent, not offering much detail on his emergence as one of baseball’s great contact hitters as shown by his sparkling .341 average.

When he sees a good pitch, he attacks. He likes to be aggressive.

That approach paid off in Friday’s 5-4 win over the Cubs that featured McNeil driving in three runs, including the game-winning run in the seventh with a two-out RBI single.

After his big day, McNeil actually pulled back the curtain a little bit, acknowledging how much it would mean to him to be part of the All-Star Game.

“It’d be huge. That’s a dream of mine, to play in the All-Star Game, and I think I’ve done enough and I’ve been the best possible player I can be up to this point, playing multiple positions and doing it really well,” McNeil said. “I don’t think there’s much more I can do to make my case."

McNeil may not be a household name, but he’s been the Mets’ most consistent player since he debuted last July.

At a time when all the focus is on launch angle and hitting dingers, McNeil is something of a throwback, peppering the ball to all parts of the field.

The league has not yet figured him out with the 27-year-old owning a .335 average over his first 125 games. He hits righties, lefties, starters, relievers, you name it.

“You can use the word complete. You can use the word All-Star. This guy is playing the type of baseball that you want everybody to play. He’s definitely been an All-Star so far,” Mets manager Mickey Callaway said. “It’s been tremendous. Day in and day out. Lefties, righties, it doesn’t matter who’s pitching. Big, huge spots, he comes up. ... It’s unbelievable every night.”

McNeil played a large role in the Mets getting back in the win column Friday after two rough losses dropped them a season-high five games below .500.

Trailing 2-1 in the third, McNeil crushed a hanging sinker from Yu Darvish, depositing it into the right-field stands to give the Mets (36-40) the lead.

Four innings later in a 4-4 game, McNeil came up with two outs, prompting the Cubs to turn to lefty reliever Mike Montgomery.

McNeil is not susceptible to the lefty-on-lefty matchups, and he pulled a low sinker, hitting it into the open hole between Anthony Rizzo and Addison Russell to score the run. With his 3 for 5 day, McNeil now owns 27 multi-hit games this year.

“Not trying to do too much,” McNeil said. “Been seeing lefties really well this year and trying to get a ball over the middle of the plate and I got to 3-2, kind of swung at a borderline pitch, got enough barrel on it and it found a hole.”

The Mets’ beleaguered bullpen made the lead stand with Seth Lugo and Edwin Diaz combining for the final nine outs.

The bullpen actually threw 4.1 scoreless innings.

McNeil aided Lugo in the eighth by catching Rizzo in a rundown when the first baseman took too aggressive a turn on a soft single to left.

This game marked McNeil’s first start in right field this year, and he made each play, including one up against the Ivy.

“That’s my baseball instincts taking over,” McNeil said of the rundown. “If you’re not careful, let it go to second, he walks to third, definitely had to make him commit.”

While McNeil did not come close to being a starter in the All-Star Game, finishing 20th in votes among outfielders, he should have a decent chance of being chosen in some fashion.

Among his teammates, Pete Alonso also has a good shot of making the team, and Jacob deGrom’s recent surge may land him on the team as well.

Michael Conforto is having an All-Star worthy season that seems to be undervalued.

McNeil’s case may be flying under the radar nationally, but the Mets are starting to make their pitch for the flying squirrel.

“He has to be (on the team). It just doesn’t make any sense in my opinion,” Callaway said. “I get to see him every day, and there’s no doubt in my mind that he’s an All-Star for sure.”