Cano snaps skid with a home run
CHICAGO — Robinson Cano feigned surprise that his careerlongest hitless streak — which had ended the previous night — was only 23 at-bats. “It feels like a month,” Cano said. He was the lineup’s focal point Thursday, delivering a solo homer and RBI double in the Mets’ 4-0 victory over the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field. Cano homered leading off the second inning against Dylan Cease and then doubled in Jeff McNeil as part of the Mets’ three-run sixth. “That’s the beauty of baseball: One day you do really good and you don’t know what’s going to happen the next two or three games,” Cano said. “But I am always going to keep working.” Before the game, manager Mickey Callaway was questioned about his decision to leave Cano in the cleanup spot. The second baseman was 2for-30 entering play since his three-homer game on July 23. Was there any consideration to dropping Cano in the lineup? “Not when we are still winning and streaking,” Callaway said. “You can call me superstitious, I guess on that one.”
Luis Avilan’s trust level continues to rise: the lefty reliever entered to start the eighth and gave the Mets 1¹/3 scoreless innings in which he allowed only one base runner.
“I feel real confident, especially with switch hitters — even when righties are coming up in between lefties — that he’s going to be able to get a ground ball,” Callaway said. “We saw today, a couple of ground balls, he got a double play out of one of them. He’s got some weapons and he continues to throw the ball well.”
Avilan hasn’t allowed a run in his last nine appearances since returning from the injured list.
Brandon Nimmo continues to “ramp up” his workload in Port St. Lucie, but the Mets do not have a rehab assignment scheduled for the outfielder yet, according to Callaway.
Juan Lagares continues to battle an illness, according to Callaway, but should be available for the weekend. Aaron Altherr was used as a defensive replacement in center field in the late innings with Lagares weakened.