Mike’s wrist has bruise, but no break
SAN FRANCISCO — Rene Rivera made the most of his opportunity Sunday. The backup catcher, who had not played since Tuesday, hit two home runs, made two big defensive plays and guided Rafael Montero through a surprisingly strong spot start as the Mets beat the Giants, 8-2, at AT&T Park.
The Mets (34-41) completed the sweep of the three-game series against the struggling Giants (27-51). It was only the second time this season the Mets have swept a series of any length.
Rivera hit a two-run shot to the left-field corner in the second inning and then connected on a solo shot to left in the fourth.
“Big game for him. When Travis (d’Arnaud) came back, Rene got in a little bit of a funk, he was swinging so well early and kind of running into a little bit of a slow streak,” Terry Collins said. “Today I hope gets him back.”
Jay Bruce hit a two-run shot in the eighth and Curtis Granderson had a solo splash into McCovey Cove in the ninth. Granderson’s homer was his third into McCovey Cove. It was also the 46th dinger the Mets have hit in June, the most home runs the team has hit in any month in franchise history. The previous record of 45 was recorded in August 2015 and tied in August of 2016.
Rivera also grabbed Denard Span’s popup behind home plate while sliding to the wall on his knees for the first out in the bottom of the first. Then in the third inning, with runners on first and third, he threw out Hunter Pence trying to steal second to end the threat.
The Mets were hoping Montero, in his 15th start, was finally “getting it.” The 26-year-old had rocketed through the minors because of his ability to throw strikes. It never showed in the majors. Montero went into Sunday 1-5 with a 5.29 ERA in 14 career starts. He gave the Mets 5.2 solid innings, holding the Giants to a run on five hits. He walked two and struck out seven.
SAN FRANCISCO — Michael Conforto left Sunday’s 8-2 victory over the Giants in the sixth inning after having been hit in the left hand/wrist an inning earlier with a pitch from Giants starter Matt Moore. The team announced that X-rays on the wrist were negative for a break, but that he had suffered a bruise.
Conforto said he is hopeful he will be ready for Tuesday’s series opener in Miami.
“Definitely hope so. I want to be in there as soon as possible,” Conforto said. “It’s pretty stiff right now and hopefully I will be back out there as soon as possible.”
Conforto remained in the game for the rest of the fifth inning, playing the field. He was 0-for-2 in three at-bats before he was hit. He finished the series 4-for-8 with a double and three RBI.
With Curtis Granderson’s bat heating up and Yoenis Cespedes back from the disabled list, Conforto’s playing time has been scaled back of late. Granderson continued his barrage again Sunday with a home run, a single and three walks in the leadoff spot.
“He’s swinging great. I don’t know if it’s due to the rest he’s had but he’s really swinging good,” Terry Collins said. “It’s nice to know you’ve got another option that when you put him in you know what he’s going to do.”
Cespedes was out of the starting lineup Sunday, his first day off since last Sunday. The outfielder played six straight games for the first time since he returned from the disabled list. Cespedes missed 37 games with a strained left hamstring. Since coming back from the DL, he is 18-of-48 with four doubles, three home runs and nine RBI in 14 games.
“I think he’s healed. Again, is he 100% after he had two months off, I don’t think anybody is in that kind of condition anymore. I think he’s done fine,” Collins said. “I think he’s running fine. I am glad he got out there for (six) in a row. Today and tomorrow we can get the next week out of him. I think he’s handled himself good. I know it’s a whole different routine pregame for him. We got some good conditioning guys here that are helping him through it and he’s sticking with the plan.”
BACK AT SHoRT
Asdrubal Cabrera went 2-for-5 Sunday, playing shortstop again after two straight games at second base under protest. The veteran shortstop asked to be traded Friday when the Mets requested he move to second and would not pick up his 2018 team option in return.
There was little drama when Collins asked him to move back so he could rest Jose Reyes.
“I didn’t make a big deal out of it,” Collins said of moving Cabrera. “I just told him after the game yesterday he was playing shortstop tomorrow and Jose needed a day off.”
IN THE FLo AGAIN
After a two-week slump, Wilmer Flores broke out in a big way this weekend. The utility infielder went 2-for-4 Sunday with a double and was 7-of-11 with a home run and four RBI for the three-game series.
“I think he’s got a good feel for what he’s got to do against righties or lefties,” Collins said. “I think he’s going to hit and hit a lot. He knows he’s got power. He’s going to hit for average.”