Mets’ Brett Baty trying to end season with surge at plate

[ad_1]

PHILADELPHIA — Ronny Mauricio and Mark Vientos have enjoyed September breakouts for the Mets, and now Brett Baty is attempting to end his season on the same kind of high.

The rookie third baseman continued his recent offensive surge, going 2-for-4 in the Mets’ 7-5 loss to the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.

“He’s been doing some things that are very good to see,” manager Buck Showalter said, noting that one of Baty’s hits came against lefty reliever Gregory Soto.

Baty had homered in two of his past three games entering Saturday, which included a game-tying blast on Friday against Phillies closer Craig Kimbrel in the ninth inning.

Baty launched a 440-foot rocket for a homer in Miami on Wednesday.

“Just hitting the balls hard gives me confidence,” Baty said.

Brett Baty rips a single during the eighth inning of the Mets' 7-5 loss to the Phillies. — Brett Baty rips a single during the eighth inning of the Mets’ 7-5 loss to the Phillies.

Overall it’s been an underwhelming first season for Baty, whose struggles earned him a demotion to Triple-A Syracuse in August.

He was recalled to the Mets this month.

Baty owns a .220/.250/.340 slash line in September.

Omar Narvaez received a second straight start behind the plate because the Phillies have left-handed pitcher Christopher Sanchez scheduled for Sunday’s series finale.

Francisco Alvarez will start that game — the plan was to split the two catchers in the four-game series and Alvarez started Thursday.

The manager has curtailed Alvarez’s playing time in this final month of the season to keep from overextending him.

Mets catcher Omar Narvaez can’t apply the tag in time on the Phillies’ Johan Rojas on Saturday in Philadelphia.

Starling Marte was scheduled for a rehab assignment at Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday, but that was in flux because of flight issues from Miami — in addition to the veteran outfielder battling flu-like symptoms.

Marte remains scheduled to work out Tuesday at Citi Field to be evaluated for a potential return from the injured list.

Marte has missed the past six weeks with a right groin strain.

Starling Marte swings against the Orioles on Aug. 5, the last time he played for the Mets before being sidelined with a right groin strain.

Francisco Lindor has 30 stolen bases and 27 homers.

It has left the shortstop with seven games to hit three homers in his attempt to join the 30/30 club.

David Wright, Howard Johnson and Darryl Strawberry are the only players in Mets history to have reached 30/30 in a season.

Johnson accomplished the feat three times.

[ad_2]

Source link