Mets Hold Off Rays 3-2 Behind Robert Stock’s Strong Start

The New York Mets finally found a way to stop their recent slide Monday night, edging the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 behind a memorable performance from Robert Stock and timely contributions throughout the lineup.

Stock pitched shutout baseball into the sixth inning for his first Major League victory in seven years, while Mark Vientos homered in his return from the injured list as the Mets snapped Tampa Bay’s four-game winning streak.

The victory was particularly significant for New York, which had lost six straight games and 11 of its previous 13 against the Rays. The Mets also ended an eight-game losing streak at Tropicana Field.

The 36-year-old Stock improved to 1-3 after allowing five hits over 5⅓ scoreless innings. He struck out four without walking a batter and escaped a bases-loaded, none-out jam in the fifth inning.

It was the longest outing of Stock’s nine career Major League starts, including six starts this season. More importantly, it was his first victory as a starter and his third career Major League win. His previous victory came in relief for the San Diego Padres on April 5, 2019.

Stock’s performance effectively gave the Mets a chance to build a lead while keeping one of baseball’s best teams off the scoreboard.

Tampa Bay starter Ian Seymour was nearly as effective. Seymour (9-6) allowed three runs and six hits over 6⅓ innings while striking out 10, but the Rays couldn’t generate enough offense to overcome New York’s early advantage.

The Mets took the lead in the fourth inning when Bo Bichette opened the frame with a double. He eventually scored when Vientos grounded into a double play, giving New York a 1-0 advantage.

The game’s biggest defensive moment came in the bottom of the fifth. Tampa Bay loaded the bases with nobody out, putting the Mets in serious danger of surrendering the lead. Taylor Walls fouled out and Yandy Díaz struck out, bringing Jonathan Aranda to the plate with a chance to do major damage.

Aranda sent a line drive toward left field, but Christopher Morel made a spectacular leaping catch to end the threat. The play potentially saved two runs and perhaps three while preserving New York’s shutout.

Morel made another crucial defensive contribution in the sixth inning. Chandler Simpson singled and attempted to take an extra base, but Morel’s throw caught the speedy Rays outfielder trying to stretch the hit, ending the inning.

Vientos then provided some breathing room in the seventh. Returning from the injured list, Vientos launched a leadoff home run to make it 2-0. The blast continued an impressive run for the Mets slugger, who had homered four times over his final two rehabilitation games with Triple-A Syracuse, including three home runs Sunday.

Francisco Alvarez added an important insurance run later in the inning, delivering an RBI single with two outs to push New York’s advantage to 3-0.

The Rays refused to go quietly. With two outs in the eighth, Liam Hicks delivered an RBI single before Simpson followed with another run-scoring single, cutting the Mets’ lead to 3-2 and suddenly putting the pressure back on New York.

Kodai Senga took over in the ninth and shut the door, working a scoreless inning for his fifth save of the season. For Tampa Bay, Junior Caminero extended his hitting streak to 13 games, but the Rays’ offense ultimately couldn’t produce enough against Stock and the Mets’ bullpen.

The loss was a rare setback for Tampa Bay, which entered the game with the best record in the American League at 82-55. The Rays also began the day with a 4½-game lead over the New York Yankees in the AL East.

For the Mets, however, the night was about ending a frustrating stretch and finding a badly needed win.

Stock delivered the biggest surprise, Vientos supplied the power in his return, Alvarez provided insurance, and Morel’s defense prevented Tampa Bay from turning a promising opportunity into a comeback.

It wasn’t a dominant victory, but for a Mets team that had lost six straight and 11 of 13, a hard-earned 3-2 win over one of the American League’s best teams was exactly what it needed.