Mets Morning News: A polar vortex settles over Minnesota in series sweep

Meet the Mets

Judging by the final score, you would never know that the final game against the Twins was a tight ballgame heading into the seventh inning. Dominic Smith gave the Mets the lead with a three-run blast and then the wheels subsequently came off for Minnesota in the final innings. Their own sloppy play opened the floodgates and it was topped off by an absolute mammoth blast by Pete Alonso. The onslaught helped propel the Mets to a series sweep which is now their fourth win in a row.

Choose your recap: Amazin’ Avenue short and long, Bergen Record, Daily News, Faith and Fear in Flushing, MLB.com, Newsday, Post, Times

Dominic Smith had a clutch pinch-hit home run and his overall production could make him a nice trade chip.

Pete Alonso’s jaw-dropping home run helped him break out of a slump in a big way.

Alonso’s home run of 474 feet was the longest home run hit by any Met since Statcast started tracking data in 2015.

Jason Vargas gave up two home runs but otherwise kept a very good Twins team off the board.

This four-game win streak has the Mets finally looking like the team they should have been all season.

Before the game, Wilmer Font was traded to the Blue Jays in return for cash considerations.

Even if Mets make moves at the deadline, there could still be players on the move in the offseason.

Recently, Ryan O’Rourke was designated for assignment which led to a whirlwind journey that ended with him back in Syracuse.

Around the National League East

The Braves dropped their final game against the Brewers to finish up their road trip.

Starlin Castro broke up Chris Paddack’s no-hitter with a home run but the Marlins came up just short against the Padres.

After a lengthy rain delay, the Phillies were hammered by the Dodgers and lost the game 7-2. The Phillies have been in freefall recently and a big part of the problem is their pitching staff giving up way too many home runs. Jay Bruce was placed on the IL with a right oblique strain.

The Nationals bullpen was not good against the Orioles and as a result the team had to settle for a series split against Baltimore.

Around Major League Baseball

Former Red Sox infielder Pumpsie Green died at the age of 85. He broke Boston’s color barrier in 1959 after they were the last team to integrate.

Major League Baseball handed out a few suspensions for hit batsmen. Angels reliever Noe Ramirez and manager Brad Ausmus were both suspended after Jake Marisnick was hit by a pitch, and Phillies’ reliever Hector Neris was issued a suspension for throwing at David Freese.

The White Sox placed Eloy Jimenez on the injured list with an ulnar nerve contusion.

Manny Machado thinks there is an unfair double standard when it comes to suspensions and media coverage of players.

With the trade deadline getting closer there are ten storylines to keep an eye on before the month comes to an end.

Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue

On Episode 15 of A Pod of Their Own, Maggie welcomed Lukas and Ken to the show to discuss wages in the minor leagues.

Maggie also wrote about what a potential Todd Frazier trade could look like.

Vasilis Drimalitis wrote about the Font trade.

This Date in Mets History

The Mets made this a grand date in their history. In 2000, Mike Piazza hit his third grand slam of the season to help give the Mets an 11-7 win over the Blue Jays. Six years later, Carlos Beltran became the first Met to hit grand slams in consecutive games when he blasted one in a win over the Reds.