That is getting McCrazy.
Jeff McNeil hit solely 5 homers earlier than the All-Star break, however since returning has morphed right into a slugging sensation.
On Tuesday he blasted his fourth homer in 5 video games for the reason that break, giving the Mets a lead they by no means relinquished in a 3-2 victory over the Yankees in The Bronx.
McNeil’s two-run blast towards former teammate Michael Tonkin within the sixth snapped a 1-1 tie.
“Joyful Jeff” — a nickname bestowed upon McNeil by Francisco Lindor a day earlier in Miami — was beaming as he rounded the bases.
“One other good day, and any day you go residence from the ballpark glad is an efficient one,” McNeil stated.
After Pete Alonso doubled main off the sixth and superior to 3rd with one out, McNeil got here to the plate and endured towards Tonkin after falling behind 1-2 within the rely.
McNeil labored the rely full earlier than slamming a 93 mph fastball over the fence in right-center. It was an at-bat during which McNeil fouled off 4 pitches.
“An at-bat like that, I’m attempting to not do an excessive amount of, the infield is drawn in and I’m attempting to get one thing I can elevate,” McNeil stated. “Typically pitchers make good pitches and also you don’t get the appropriate pitch to do it, so you’ve got to battle.”
An inning earlier McNeil brought about a site visitors jam on the bases that was virtually disastrous.
With McNeil at second base and Luis Torrens at first following consecutive singles to open the fifth, Tyrone Taylor hit a shot to left that Alex Verdugo performed off the fence.
McNeil had retreated to second base to tag up and Torrens wanted to decelerate to keep away from passing him. McNeil stopped at third, loading the bases.
“If [Verdugo] catches that ball and I’m not on third base that may be a drawback,” McNeil stated. “So you’ve got to be secure there. [Verdugo] put his glove up. I assumed it was getting in his glove. That’s a kind of baseball performs that simply occurred.”
McNeil in the end scored to tie it 1-1 when Lindor was drilled by a pitch with one out.
However neither Brandon Nimmo nor J.D. Martinez might ship to place the Mets forward.
McNeil credit his choice earlier than the All-Star break to begin attempting to hit the ball arduous as an alternative of hitting for location as the important thing to his turnaround.
McNeil had a dreadful .591 OPS within the first half.
“I really feel like he’s again to what everyone knows he’s able to,” supervisor Carlos Mendoza stated. “However now he’s driving the ball, impacting the baseball. He’s bought conviction behind his swing. He’s getting good pitches and placing good swings on it.”
