Smith’s HR keys Mets to win over Yanks
NEW YORK » Dominic Smith hit the go-ahead home run in his first game since tearfully pleading for help combating racial inequality, Pete Alonso also connected and the Mets beat the crosstown Yankees, 6-4, in the opener of a doubleheader Friday.
Smith, a 25-year-old Black man, wept Wednesday night reflecting on a recent shooting by police of a Black man in Wisconsin. Smith and his teammates were all smiles after his decisive solo shot against Chad Green in the sixth inning on what was Jackie Robinson Day around the majors.
Alonso pounded on the dugout railing and the Mets bench went wild while Smith rounded the bases at Yankee Stadium. Inspired by the emotional comments from the usually upbeat Smith, the Mets staged a walkout protest against racial injustice with the Miami Marlins on Thursday night.
Smith’s drive followed a tying three-run shot by the struggling Alonso, and Jake Marisnick also connected in the inning against Green (2-2).
The Yankees lost their sixth in a row.
Mets reliever Dellin Betances, making his first appearance against his former team, allowed two runners in the sixth but escaped on Gary Sanchez’s popup. Edwin Díaz struck out the side in the ninth for his second save.
The teams are set to play five games in three days to make up for games at Citi Field postponed last weekend after two members of the Mets tested positive for the coronavirus.
Clint Frazier homered, drove in three and reached base four times for the Yankees as a fill-in for injured Aaron Judge. New York’s everyday right fielder was placed back on the 10-day injured list Friday with a recurrence of a left calf strain after aggravating the injury in his return from the IL on Wednesday.
Frazier is batting .344 with a 1.182 OPS in 10 games this season.
Yankees left-hander Jordan Montgomery pitched one-run ball through five innings but allowed singles to J.D. Davis and Michael Conforto leading off the sixth before Green relieved to face Alonso. The 2019 NL Rookie of the Year was hitting .184 with runners in scoring position before sending Green’s 3-2 fastball out to center field.
Smith scored the Mets’ first run after being hit by a pitch, advancing on third baseman Miguel Andújar’s error and scoring on a wild pitch.
Walker Lockett (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings in relief for the
Mets.
Luke Voit had three hits for the Yankees.