His opposite-field, bases-loaded shot off Dylan Cease in the fifth inning was just his seventh homer in 74 games of his encore.

Before taking the field Monday night at Petco Park, Mark Vientos acknowledged the realities facing him in a fitful follow-up to last year’s breakout season. “I feel like I’m swinging a lot better and I’m playing a lot less now,

Mendoza explained it is his job to protect his players, as home plate umpire Emil Jimenez "had a rough night" Before the game, the skipper spoke about Paul Blackburn 's next steps in his rehab and the young Mets' contributions