NEW YORK – A two-run home run by Danny Jansen was the highlight of a six-run sixth inning that powered the Tampa Bay Rays to a 7-5 victory over the New York Mets on Friday night, ending the Mets’ six-game winning streak.
The Mets took an early lead with Clay Holmes on the mound, ending his night after five innings ahead at 5-1. However, the advantage quickly dissipated when Paul Blackburn was brought in and yielded four runs after facing just five batters.
Jake Mangum’s two-run single forced Blackburn out of the game, and a groundout by José Caballaro off Max Kranick (3-2) narrowed the gap. Jansen then delivered the knockout punch with a 389-foot homer to left field on a 2-2 count.
Despite placing seven runners on base in the remaining innings, the Mets failed to capitalize and suffered their first loss at Citi Field since May 28, and now stand at 27-8 at home.
Eric Orze (1-0), who made brief appearances with the Mets last season, secured his first major league win with a solid relief effort after starter Taj Bradley was removed following a rough start, though all five runs he allowed were unearned.
The Rays’ bullpen, featuring Mason Montgomery, Garrett Cleavinger, Edwin Uceta, and Pete Fairbanks—who claimed his 13th save—combined for four scoreless innings, overcoming a trio of defensive errors and issuing seven walks to clinch the victory.
Jonathan Aranda contributed with a home run for the Rays in the fourth inning.
For the Mets, Starling Marte notched three hits and drove in three runs, while Tyrone Taylor was credited with an RBI via a fielder’s choice in the fourth. Juan Soto managed to draw a walk with the bases loaded in the fifth inning.
In a tense ninth inning, Fairbanks overcame a first-and-third situation by inducing Brett Baty into a forceout and striking out Ronny Mauricio.
Significantly, the Mets matched a prior season high for runs allowed in an inning, having previously suffered a similar fate against the Yankees.
Next on the agenda, the Mets’ right-hander Tylor Megill (5-4, 3.76 ERA) is set to face off against Rays’ right-hander Drew Rasmussen (5-4, 2.22 ERA) on Saturday.