Jose Iglesias delivered another timely hit Thursday afternoon, when he laced the tiebreaking RBI single in the ninth to give the New York Mets a 3-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the rubber game of a three-game series in Phoenix.
The Mets, who began Thursday four games behind the Atlanta Braves in the race for the final National League wild-card spot, improved to 4-3 on a 10-game road trip.
The Diamondbacks lost a series at home for the first time since dropping two of three against the Minnesota Twins from June 25-27. They remained a game ahead of the San Diego Padres in the race for the top wild-card spot by virtue of the Padres’ 4-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals earlier Thursday.
Randal Grichuk hit a two-run homer in the third and finished 2-for-3 for the Diamondbacks.
Francisco Lindor tied the game with a sixth-inning solo homer before the Mets took the lead against Justin Martinez (5-5). Jesse Winker doubled with one out and pinch-runner Tyrone Taylor advanced to third on J.D. Martinez’s flyout to deep right.
Iglesias, who was hitless in his previous 12 at-bats, followed with a single off the glove of diving shortstop Geraldo Perdomo. He is batting .500 (9-for-18) with 10 RBIs with two outs and runners in scoring position this season.
Jose Butto (6-3) tossed a hitless eighth inning. Edwin Diaz — who gave up the go-ahead grand slam to Corbin Carroll in the eighth inning of the Diamondbacks’ 8-5 win Wednesday night — earned his 15th save by striking out two in a perfect ninth.
Pete Alonso homered in the second for the Mets while Winker, Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil had two hits apiece. Nimmo added a stolen base.
New York starter David Peterson gave up two runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out four over seven innings.
Arizona’s Ryne Nelson allowed two runs on eight hits and no walks while striking out four over 6 1/3 innings.
–Field Level Media