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Maybe Pete Alonso’s game-winning blast Wednesday night did finally get the Mets going.
After that thrilling comeback win, the Mets followed it up Thursday by beating the Rays, 3-2, giving them their first back-to-back victories in nearly a month.
And it came against the team with the best record in the sport.
“We needed it,’’ said David Robertson, who picked up the save at Citi Field. “It didn’t matter who we were playing. It just so happened we ran into the Rays, a hot team that’s been good all year. For us to be able to scratch two out of three [against them], it’s big for us and for our confidence.”
Once again, Alonso’s power played a big part in the win.
Despite being under the weather the past few days, the first baseman homered for a third straight game.
His Thursday blast was his 16th of the season, tops in the majors.
“I want what he has,’’ Jeff McNeil joked of Alonso’s success despite not being 100 percent.
“If I’m out there, I’m gonna shoot my best bullet, always,’’ Alonso said. “I approach it like I normally do. … If I’m physically able, I’m willing to go. It’s something I take pride in.”
Even after Alonso’s homer, they needed another run to take the lead for good, and the go-ahead run came on a soft infield single by Tommy Pham in the sixth.
Tylor Megill pitched six strong innings before Brooks Raley and Jeff Brigham each tossed scoreless innings and Robertson closed it.
The Rays got to Megill quickly, as Josh Lowe led off the game with a double and moved to third on an infield single by Randy Arozarena.
Lowe scored on a Harold Ramirez groundout, but Megill escaped further damage when Brandon Lowe grounded into a double play.
The Mets loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the inning with a Francisco Lindor walk, a single by McNeil and a walk to Alonso.
Lindor scored to tie the game on a Brett Baty groundout before Pham whiffed to end the inning.
Alonso put the Mets ahead in the fourth with his 446-foot blast to center.
Megill didn’t allow a hit after the first until Lowe’s two-out solo shot to center tied the game at 2-2 in the sixth.
With two on and two out, backup catcher Michael Perez caught Ramirez off first to end another Tampa Bay threat.
In the bottom of the inning, Pham came up with runners on the corners with one out after singles by McNeil and Baty against right-hander Zack Littell, and Pham’s dribbler to third did the job.
Robertson gave up a one-out double to Arozarena, but got Ramirez and Lowe to end the game.
The victory gave the Mets consecutive wins for the first time since winning two straight in San Francisco on April 20-21.
“We know we’re talented,’’ Alonso said. “Our talent has been here the entire year. It’s just a matter of performing and this performance against a high-quality opponent is a good sign for us. The past few weeks have been tough. You can’t deny that. Hopefully this is a springboard into the next series.”
That comes against the Guardians.
Asked if the series win and a couple of gritty victories over the Rays would provide a jolt to his team, Buck Showalter said, “We’ll see.”
“We have to turn the page,’’ the manager said. “There’s a long way to go and it starts again [Friday].”
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