Wendle, Rays rough up Mets

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Joey Wendle hit three doubles and a single, keying two big innings that sent the Tampa Bay Rays past the New York Mets 12- 5 Saturday. Yandy Diaz, who had two of Tampa Bay’s eight doubles, and Randy Arozarena each had three hits.

Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso and Jose Peraza each homered for the Mets, who have lost two in a row at Tropicana Field after a seven- game winning streak.

Wendle had an infield single that set up a run in the first and doubled to spark a five- run fourth that made it 6- 4. He hit a two- run double in a six- run eighth that broke open the game.

“The law of averages,” explained Wendle, who has been slumping with the rest of the Rays. “We’ve talked about it being a long season, and these things happen . . . things will turn around at some point. We’re not going to hit .100 all season. I think it was something that was bound to happen eventually.”

Rays starter Shane McClanahan ( 1- 0) got his first major league win. The 24- year- old lefty, who last October became the first pitcher in major league history to debut in the postseason, gave up four runs on six hits while striking out seven in 5⅓ innings.

Peraza’s three- run homer, his first of the season, put the Mets up 3- 1 in the second. Alonso made it 4- 1 in the third with his sixth homer of the season and first in 16 games.

Willy Adames hit a tworun double in the fourth off Joey Lucchesi ( 1- 3). Pinchhitter Austin Meadows drove in the final run of the inning with a double off Sean Reid- Foley.

Lucchesi ( 1- 3) gave up four runs in 12⁄ innings

3 following Drew Smith, who worked two innings in his first major league start. Smith gave up one unearned run on two hits while striking out three.

“I’ve just got to keep trusting myself,“Lucchesi said.

“I know I’m really good, but I’m not showing it right now. I know there are haters out there, but whatever, I’m just going to man up and do the best I can the next time out.”