Smith’s lineout helps kill 8th-inning rally

Dominic Smith had done as much as opportunity allowed. Then, no better opportunity arrived.

Continuing to take advantage of increased playing time since Yoenis Cespedes’ departure, Smith came through by crushing a solo homer into Citi Field’s upper deck in right field in the second inning of Friday’s game against the Marlins. It was Smith’s team-high eighth RBI in his 19th at-bat of the season.

“I felt like I was right on it,” Smith said of his second homer of the season. “I just wanted to be on time and I put a good swing on it.”

When the 4-3 loss was completed, one swing stained his memory of the night.

Stepping up to the plate in the eighth with one out, the bases loaded and the Mets down one, Smith fell behind 0-2 in the count, before flying out to shallow center. Wilson Ramos followed with an inningending groundout and the Mets would never threaten again.

“We got a situation where it’s bases loaded and the tying run on third and the winning run on second and unfortunately I wasn’t able to get the job done,” Smith said. “We got to push those runs [across]. I got to get the job done.”

➤ Jeff McNeil and Amed Rosario both returned from multi-game absences. McNeil hadn’t played since being scratched from Monday’s game against the Braves with a low-grade right intercostal strain (back). Rosario also had been out since Monday, when he was pulled with left quad tightness.

Luis Rojas sounded optimistic Robinson Cano could be back when his 10day minimum stay on the injured list is over. The 37year-old second baseman took grounders before Friday’s game.

“He’s progressing really well and responding really well to the treatment,” the Mets manager said.

➤ Robert Gsellman will soon make his longawaited return.

Last appearing in a game on Aug. 11, the reliever — most recently put on the injured list on July 22 with right triceps tendinitis — rejoined the Mets on Friday. Gsellman said much of his recent absence was a precautionary measure, and voiced no concern after experiencing a second injury to his throwing arm in the past year.

“I was feeling some arm troubles right when I got to camp. It was nothing major,” Gsellman said. “It was just taking it slow and making sure I was fully healthy. I’m back to normal now.

“Whatever they need I’m here for ... I think I can definitely help.”

➤ J.D. Davis went 1-for-4 with an RBI, setting a career-high with his 11-game hitting streak . ... Pete Alonso went 2-for-4 with his first double of the year, snapping a ninegame drought without an extra-base hit . ... Brandon Nimmo extended his career-high on-base streak to 20.