Mets get knocked down, then get up again to grind out series win

SAN FRANCISCO -- After the Mets secured their first road series win of the season with a 5-2 comeback victory over the Giants on Sunday, Chumbawamba’s earworm of a 1997 hit, “Tubthumping,” blasted through a mostly empty Oracle Park.

This afternoon, it was a fitting coda for a game (and series) that saw the visiting Mets -- already a bit banged-up and not at full strength -- get knocked down, only to get up again off the deck and secure a happy flight back home to Queens.

After dropping Thursday’s opener, it was the club’s offensive depth that came up big, even without the services of Juan Soto (lifted Friday with a mild right calf strain), Francisco Lindor off to a slow start (.135 average through 10 games) and Bo Bichette still acclimating to his new surroundings.

Sunday’s heroes were Jared Young -- pressed into duty once Brett Baty was scratched pregame after jamming his left thumb Saturday night -- and pinch-hitter Luis Torrens.

Backing up the classic baseball platitude “the ball will find you,” Young promptly recorded his first career three-hit game and made two stellar defensive plays, while Torrens had the game’s biggest hit in a decisive four-run eighth, slapping a two-run double the opposite way to conclude an eight-pitch battle against lefty Erik Miller.

Though neither Young nor Torrens was part of the Mets’ initial lineup on Sunday, each was ready to roll if called upon.

Young cited a conversation with Baty Saturday evening regarding Baty's thumb issue that put the potential for a starting assignment in his head.

And both manager Carlos Mendoza and Torrens credited bench coach Kai Correa for suggesting Torrens be at the ready against members of the Giants’ left-handed relief corps.

“I was prepared even before the game,” Torrens said via interpreter Alan Suriel. “And he told me that there might be a situation where I come in.”

Torrens’ average as a pinch-hitter climbed to .352 (19-for-54), as he’s been a weapon off the bench anywhere he’s been in the Majors.

“I really appreciate to be told that earlier on in the game, or even before the game, just because I'm able to prepare myself the way that I know that I can prepare myself,” Torrens said of the mental aspect of being called upon in key situations.

Undermanned as they were against Giants ace Logan Webb, the Mets soldiered on. With the cushion of Kodai Senga striking out six of his first eight batters and pitching into the sixth -- undone by a three-hit frame bookended by two unlucky bloop singles -- New York’s offense battled.

Ultimately, it was Torrens, pinch-hitting for Young in the eighth, who turned a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead with his clutch double.

“There’s a lot of versatility,” reflected Mendoza. “There’s a lot of things we can do because of the flexibility, so it goes to show you that it’s a big roster.

“[Correa] brought it up to me way before the game started -- Luis Torrens against one of those lefties. I’ve got to give him credit. And sure enough, the situation presented itself and he was ready to go from the very beginning, and he executed.”

Mendoza also credited his hitters’ ability to grind out at-bats.

“With [Jorge] Polanco, the double, and [Luis Robert Jr.] follows it and it continues to be good at-bat after good at-bat. Passing the baton, trusting guys. And then Luis Torrens there, not trying to do too much. Robert Jr. with a huge stolen base, the small details today.”

Those small details added up to big results for the Mets this weekend, laying the foundation for the club to flip the script and overcome a series loss in St. Louis and Soto’s (hopefully minor) injury and stand tall in San Francisco.

Of course, Senga’s strong outing afforded the offense the chance to stay close. Afterward, Senga stressed the ability of the Mets’ starting staff to be a difference-maker of a unit. Through Sunday, Mets starters’ 3.13 ERA is third best in the NL.

“I think it's a really strong group,” said Senga through interpreter Hiro Fujiwara. “As long as we stay healthy, stay out on the mound, we can be a stabilizing force for the team. And if it goes for everybody and myself, I don't want to be the one lagging behind.”

“We've got a good ballclub here,” said Young, “and winning games always breeds good culture and camaraderie. And getting on the plane tonight after a couple good wins is huge.”