NEW YORK -- Mets infielder Jed Lowrie hit the decisive home run for Class A Brooklyn in a 1-0 win over the Hudson Valley Renegades on Thursday, evening the New York-Penn League best-of-three semifinal series at one game apiece. But Lowrie, who has missed the entire season due to various leg injuries, is still not ready to make his Mets debut.

Lowrie was back in the Cyclones’ lineup on Friday for Game 3, when he went 0-for-4 with a strikeout in a 4-3 win that advanced Brooklyn to the final three-game set. Besides the team getting to continue its season and possibly win the New York-Penn League title, it also means at least two additional games for Lowrie to rehab in the Minors before possibly rejoining the Mets.

“Talking to him, he understands where we’re at in the season,” Mets manager Mickey Callaway said. “At some point, games in the Minor Leagues are going to end, and he feels like he’s getting closer and closer.”

The Mets, who have expressed confidence that Lowrie can return before the end of the regular season, could still potentially give him live at-bats in simulated games after the Minor League season ends. Prior to joining Brooklyn, Lowrie played in six games for Class A St. Lucie and 12 games for Triple-A Syracuse, combining to hit .234 with two doubles and two homers.

He has not appeared in a Major League game since signing a two-year, $20 million deal last winter.

“You just find a way to continue to get better, and it's obviously been frustrating, but you just continue to push,” Lowrie said. “[A postseason race] is what it's all about, and I just want to do whatever I can to help the team win.”

Alumni relations

The Mets welcomed two of their alumni back to Citi Field on Friday, including catcher and 2000 National League pennant winner Todd Pratt. Best known for his walk-off home run in Game 4 of the 1999 NL Division Series, Pratt now manages the Class A Jupiter Hammerheads in the Marlins organization. His longterm goal, he says, is to manage a Major League team.

“I’m not putting a timeline on it,” Pratt said. “I’m enjoying it. There’s no real rush, but that’s why I’m in it.”

Also in attendance Friday was Jeff Innis, a sidearm reliever who played his entire seven-year career with the Mets from 1987-93.