AROUND THE HORN
Mets:
The Mets won two of three in their NL East showdown with the Braves despite playing without two of their four All-Stars. It helped that Francisco Lindor played like he should be included at the Midsummer Classic. Lindor led a home-run barrage with a three-run shot, Chris Bassitt threw six strong innings and the Mets beat the Braves 7-3 on Wednesday in Atlanta. The first-place Mets stretched their lead over the Braves to 2 ½ games by winning the series. Lindor had five hits in the set. He has 64 RBIs and already has topped his 2021 total of 63. The Mets were without All-Star second baseman Jeff McNeil (paternity list) and outfielder Starling Marte (groin tightness) in the series. Eduardo Escobar and Mark Canha also homered for the Mets. Eddie Rosario had three hits, including one of the Braves’ three homers — all solo shots. Bassitt (7-6) improved to 5-2 in eight road starts this season by allowing one run on five hits with six strikeouts and two walks. The Braves’ Charlie Morton (5-4) gave up five runs on six hits, including three homers, and three walks in five-plus innings. The three homers allowed matched his career high.
Mariners: Jesse Winker hit his second solo HR of the day and the Mariners won their 10th straight game, edging the host Nationals 2-1 to sweep a doubleheader. The Mariners have 10 consecutive wins for the first time since April 8-17, 2002. Their only longer winning streak was a 15-game run from May 23-June 8, 2001 — the last year they made the playoffs. The Mariners are second in the AL West, well behind the Astros but squarely in wild-card contention. The Mariners won the opener 6-4, getting a three-run HR from Eugenio Suárez and six solid innings from Chris Flexen, who won his fourth straight start. Winker also homered in the afternoon game, his first after serving a six-game suspension for his role in a brawl with the Angels on June 26. Tommy Milone (1-1) pitched 3 ⅓ scoreless innings of relief to win the nightcap.
Extra innings: RHP Luis Severino allowed three consecutive HRs in the Yankees’ 7-6 extra-inning win over the visiting Reds and exited his start because of right shoulder tightness. Severino is to undergo an MRI on Thursday. The 28-year-old allowed HRs to Kyle Farmer, Mike Moustakas and Stuart Fairchild in a four-pitch span in the second . ... Shane McClanahan earned his 10th win and regained the major league lead in strikeouts during his final outing before the All-Star Game, pitching the host Rays past the Red Sox 4-1. McClanahan struck out six and allowed one run in 6 ⅓ innings of three-hit ball. He increased his season total to 147 strikeouts. The 25-yearold lefty lowered his AL-best ERA to 1.71 . ... Mariners rookie Julio Rodríguez and Guardians slugger José Ramírez will compete in the All-Star Home Run Derby on Monday. The two players join two-time defending champ Pete Alonso of the Mets, the Cardinals’ Albert Pujols, Braves’ Ronald Acuña Jr., Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber and Nationals’ Soto. Rodriguez has 15 HRs and Ramírez 17. There’s one more Derby slot open.