Travis finally behind plate after year away

One year and one day removed from his last Major League Baseball start, Travis d’Arnaud was thrilled to finally crouch behind the plate again. The Mets catcher was batting eighth during the Mets’ 14-8 loss to the Twins on Tuesday night at Citi Field. It was his first time catching in a bigleague game since April 8, 2018 – a week before he underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.

“It’s exciting,” d’Arnaud said. “It’s something that I’ve always thought about every single day the last whole year, was to get back out there in a big-league uniform and start the big-league game.”

D’Arnaud went 0-for-3 with a strikeout at the plate on Tuesday. He caught Max Kepler stealing second base with help from a nice tag by Robinson Canó in the 4th.

The 30-year-old eased into majorleague

action during the Mets’ 12-0 loss to the Nationals on Sunday. He walked up to the plate in the 7th for a pinch-hit appearance and stayed behind the plate for the remainder of the game. D’Arnaud almost drove one out of the park in his second at-bat, but it fell just short for a flyball. He went 0for-5 Tuesday night.

ROOKIE COMMANDER

Pete Alonso drove a fastball hanging over the plate to straightaway right field for his fourth homer in just 10 career majorleague games. The opposite-field homer trimmed the Twins’ lead to 7-4 in the 7th. Alonso barreled his second of the game in the ninth, for his first career multi-homer game. Alonso leads rookies in hits, doubles and RBI. His four HRs tie Ron Swoboda and Mike Jacobs for most homers in franchise history over 10 games.

WHAT SLUMP?

Brandon Nimmo, for the second consecutive game, looked like himself at the plate. The outfielder crushed a leadoff homer to center field in the third for his first long ball of the year. He followed the homer with a double to deep left field in the fifth.

VARGAS BLUES

Jason Vargas had his second start of the season pushed back to Saturday against the Braves. In order to keep him fresh, the Mets sent their No. 5 starter to the mound in the ninth inning Tuesday.

In his first relief appearance of the year, Vargas provided anything but comfort. He opened with four consecutive hits: A double, two singles and a home run. The outing lifted his season ERA to 9.00.

INJURY UPDATES

Often times while the Mets complete pregame batting practice, Jed Lowrie (left knee capsule sprain) can be found taking ground balls at third, but the Mets are still unable to provide a timeline for his return.