Snell helps Tampa blank N.Y.

NEW YORK — Tampa Bay’s Blake Snell and Wilson Ramos are hoping they both get selected to the American League All-Star team. Saturday afternoon’s performance at Citi Field may have strengthened the batterymates’ chances.

Snell blanked the Mets over a career-high-tying 71⁄3 innings, Ramos drove in a pair of runs and the Rays downed New York 3-0 on Saturday.

“I’d be pumped,” Snell said about the possibility of playing in the Midsummer Classic. “I’d be stoked.”

A late afternoon start under clear blue skies featured two young left-handers at the top of their game in recent weeks, both successfully dodging a slew of baserunners early.

Ranked among the league leaders in several categories, the 25-year-old Snell was as advertised — keeping the Mets off the board despite allowing the leadoff runner to reach in six out of eight frames including each of the first four.

Snell (12-4) struck out nine, scattering six hits and three walks while lowering his AL-leading ERA to 2.09.

“Blake has been tremendous for us. He’s been the workhorse.” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “We’re talking about a potential All-Star candidate.”

The lanky lefty has yielded two runs or fewer in nine of his last 10 starts and is 4-0 with an 0.63 ERA over his last four outings, two against the Astros.

“He deserves to be in the All-Star Game because he’s had an awesome year,” Ramos said of the Rays starter. “There’s nothing better than being with your teammates in the All-Star Game.”

The feeling is mutual. “He needs to go,” Snell said, rallying for his backstop. “It would be even cooler if I did go and pitch to him. I think that would be special for the both of us.”

After being held scoreless in 34 of its previous 36 innings, Tampa Bay finally broke through in the fifth. Matt Duffy lined a leadoff double down the right-field line, the fourth two-bagger surrendered by Mets starter Steven Matz to that point, advancing to third on a groundout.

Ramos followed with a sharp grounder to shortstop. A charging Amed Rosario booted the ball before recovering and throwing to first for the out. With Duffy running on contact, Rosario likely would have cut down the run at home had he fielded the ball cleanly. Instead, the Rays took a 1-0 lead.

“He just came in on it hard,” Mets manager Mickey Callaway said. “He looked up just to see where the runner was and it hit off his heel.”

Matz (4-6) continued his recent surge, charged with one run on five hits and three walks in 61⁄3 innings — striking out five. The Long Island native has allowed four earned runs across his 2 last three starts, a span of 18 ⁄3 innings.

He escaped trouble early by getting Adeiny Hechavarria to fly out, ending a bases-loaded threat in the first. The Rays left seven men on in the first four innings and were 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position during that stretch.

“I get in situations throughout the game where I can crumble,” Matz said. “But I think just realizing what I’ve got to do out there, and just the task at hand, has really helped.”

Tampa Bay was 2 for 25 with runners in scoring position in the first two games of the series, stranding a total of 18.

The Rays added some insurance in the eighth on a bloop single by former Met Carlos Gomez, scoring Daniel Robertson. Ramos singled home a run in the ninth.