Conforto makes big play with glove for Jake

Michael Conforto’s catch loomed even larger as Sunday’s game reached the fifth inning with 12 straight Diamondbacks retired from the start, but alas there wouldn’t be historical significance attached to the grab.

Jacob deGrom allowed three walks and a double in the fifth and departed before the next inning with right-side tightness. But Conforto’s circus catch in the second inning, extending his glove to the right-field fence on Eduardo Escobar’s drive, was impressive nonetheless.

“I felt like it was low enough that I was going to have a chance to get there,” Conforto said after the Mets’ 4-2 victory at Citi Field. “It was right over the top of my head, which allowed me to get back to the fence and I took a little quick glance to see where I was at.

“When the ball went up it was a ball I felt like I could catch and I needed to catch because when Jake is on the mound there might be one or two barreled balls that go up and you want to go make those plays for him. Those are the big plays with Jake on the mound.”

In the fifth, Conforto and Kevin Pillar converged on Stephen Vogt’s drive to right-center, but the ball landed between the diving outfielders for a double. It was the only hit surrendered by deGrom.

“I did end up calling it really late,” Conforto said. “I never heard him call it and we both kind of dove at the same time. [Pillar’s] head hit my calf and it hit it pretty hard and I could tell by the way it felt to me that it would probably shake him up pretty good … he was definitely shaken up.”

Pillar remained in the game.

“I wish we could have gotten to that ball,” Conforto said. “But it just kind of split us perfectly there.”

➤ Drew Smith was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse before the game and the Mets optioned Trevor Hildenberger. The right-hander Smith began the season on the injured list after incurring shoulder discomfort during spring training.