Mets Morning News: Reyes outruns Rosenthal

Meet the Mets

The Mets utilized a strong Seth Lugo start, home runs from Lucas Duda and Wilmer Flores, and a dead sprint from Jose Reyes for a walk-off infield hit to cage the Cardinals, 3-2, on Thursday.

Flores’s dinger was of the pinch-hit, game-tying variety in the eighth inning, depositing a Brett Cecil offering beyond the left field fence. Michael Conforto walked and T.J. Rivera singled in the ninth to put runners on the corners, then Reyes beat pitcher Trevor Rosenthal down the line after making Matt Carpenter field a hard grounder far behind first base.

In 6.1 innings, Lugo surrendered four hits, one walk, and one run to go with five strikeouts. Addison Reed notched the victory after pitching a flawless ninth.

Choose your recap: AA short and long, Times, Post, Daily News, Newsday, BP Mets.

After it went to Curtis Granderson in each of the last two seasons, Jay Bruce claimed the team’s Heart and Hustle Award. And Grandy is pissed!

Following a June swoon, Michael Conforto appears to have returned to his form from earlier this season.

David Wright’s health struggles leave the Mets with more questions than answers at third base, this season and beyond.

Asdrubal Cabrera has been taking grounders at the hot corner, possibly to raise the infielder’s trade value.

Vice Sports included the Bill Buckner incident on its list of sports moments that would have “broken Twitter” had it existed earlier. Frankly I’m disappointed they didn’t also feature Bobby Valentine’s disguise game. The man would be more famous as a meme than as a baseball figure.

Around the NL East

The Braves appear on the verge of trading starting pitcher Jaime Garcia to the Twins.

The Marlins traded reliever David Phelps to the Mariners in exchange for four minor leaguers.

The fine people at the Good Phight don’t imagine it’ll be an active trade deadline for the Phillies.

Federal Baseball has noticed a budding friendship between their Nationals and the Angels.

Around the Majors

Giants manager Bruce Bochy made like Cersei Lannister and fielded questions from a replica of the Iron Throne of Game of Thrones fame.

Royals catcher Salvador Perez was understandably elated when he stole his first base in two years.

The Rangers are exploring the trade value of ace Yu Darvish.

Yesterday at AA

Lefty hurler Thomas Szapucki, the team’s No. 4 prospect according to MLB.com, underwent Tommy John surgery.

As expected, prospective trade partners are highly interested in reliever Addison Reed.

This Date in Mets History

Facing a Pirates lineup littered with future Hall of Famers in 1965, Al Jackson carried a no-hitter into the eighth. He wound up surrendering two singles in a 1-0 complete game victory.