Vientos returns with a bang to back career-best outing from Stock

ST. PETERSBURG -- Mets manager Andy Green said prior to Monday’s series opener against the Rays that after seeing Mark Vientos crush three homers at Triple-A on Sunday, “I think the smart thing is to get him in the lineup as quickly as possible and see if he can do that again here.”

Vientos didn’t have another homer hat trick in him, but he slugged a solo shot to one of the deepest parts of Tropicana Field in the Mets’ 3-2 victory over the team with the best record (82-55) in the American League.

Vientos was activated from the injured list Monday after missing about seven weeks with a fractured right hand. He took the roster spot of Luis Robert Jr., who was claimed off waivers by the Orioles, and was immediately inserted into the cleanup spot against Rays left-handed starter Ian Seymour.

Vientos struck out and brought in a run on a double play in his first two at-bats. But in his third AB, he launched a Seymour changeup on the outside corner a Statcast-projected 418 feet to left-center field.

Green was clear before the game: Vientos will get his fair share of playing time against southpaws. But beyond that, his performance will ultimately decide how often he is on the field.

The Mets have Bo Bichette and Jared Young holding down the corner infield spots, and Juan Soto will need plenty of DH days down the stretch. But room will be made somewhere for the 26-year-old Vientos if he keeps bopping balls like he did during his rehab assignment (five homers in seven games) and on Monday night.

Vientos’ blast backed right-hander Robert Stock, who pitched the best game of his MLB career at age 36. He tossed a career-high 5 1/3 innings, issued no walks and struck out four. It was only Stock’s ninth career start through six big league seasons, but it was a total 180-degree turn from his last time out: seven runs allowed to the Brewers in four innings.

Stock’s scoreless start was in jeopardy in the fifth inning, when the Rays loaded the bases with no outs on three singles, two of which didn’t leave the infield. But Stock got Taylor Walls to pop out, blew a 96 mph fastball past Yandy Díaz for the second out and then watched left fielder Christopher Morel leap to snare a Jonathan Aranda liner to end the inning.

Morel made an impact again on defense one inning later by throwing out Chandler Simpson -- one of the fastest players in baseball -- as he tried to stretch a single into a double to close the frame.