NEW YORK — Rookie Julio Rodríguez hit a tying homer as part of a four-hit game, Cal Raleigh added a go-ahead, two-run drive and reliever Diego Castillo struck out Mets star Pete Alonso with the bases loaded in the ninth to lift the Seattle Mariners over New York 8-7 on Sunday.
New York trailed 4-1, then burst ahead in the fourth against Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray when J.D. Davis and Brandon Nimmo became the first pair of Mets in the team’s 61-season history to hit two-run triples in the same inning.
The homers from Rodríguez and Raleigh helped Seattle climb back ahead, but the Mets rallied again in the ninth.
Eduardo Escobar hit the Mets’ third triple with one out, Jeff McNeil had an RBI single and Nimmo a run-scoring double. With runners on second and third, Castillo relieved and struck out Starling Marte.
Manager Scott Servais then intentionally walked Francisco Lindor, setting up a bases-loaded showdown with Pete Alonso. Castillo threw six straight sliders, and Alonso failed to check his swing on a 3-and-2 pitch. Castillo got his second save, and the Mets took their first series loss this season.
Ray (4-3), grunting loudly on every pitch, retired his final seven batters after Nimmo’s triple. Ray, Sergio Romo, former Met Paul Sewald and Drew Steckenrider combined to retire 14 straight batters before the ninth.
A day after giving up a tying, three-run homer to Jesse Winker in the seventh inning of a game the Mets came back to win 5-4, Chasen Shreve opened the sixth by allowing Rodríguez’s second big league homer, a 423-foot, no-doubt drive to left.
Abraham Toro singled with one out and Drew Smith (0-2) relieved. Raleigh, in a 2-for-33 slide, hit a 435-foot drive to right-center for his fourth big league homer and a 7-5 lead. Rodríguez added an RBI single in the seventh against Joely Rodríguez.
Seattle arrived in a 3-12 skid but took two of three from the National League-best Mets, who had been 9-0-1 in their previous series this season. The Mariners won their first road series after losing four along with a split.
Mike Ford had a two-run single in a three-run fourth for his first Mariners hit. Seattle matched a season high with 16 hits, including at least one by each starter.
Lindor homered into the left field second deck, giving him first-inning RBIs in all three games of the series.
Trainer’s room
Mets: RHP Tylor Megill (inflamed right biceps) was placed on the 15-day IL four days after he allowed eight runs over 1 1/3 innings in a loss at Washington. RHP Colin Holderman’s contract was selected from Triple-A Syracuse and RHP was Trevor May was transferred to the 60-day IL. Holderman pitched a scoreless ninth in his major league debut.
