Oakland Athletics vs New York Mets Match Player Stats On Jul 21, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Jul 21, 2017

NEW YORK -- Michael Conforto hit a pair of two-run homers on Friday night, when the New York Mets staved off a late rally by the Oakland Athletics to hang on for a 7-5 win at Citi Field.

The Mets (44-50) have won three straight while the Athletics (43-53) have lost three of four.

Conforto's first homer put the Mets on the board in the third inning and his second blast provided what proved to be vital insurance runs in the seventh. T.J. Rivera had the go-ahead two-run single in the sixth and scored all the way from second when third baseman Matt Chapman, who had just tagged out Lucas Duda trying to advance to third for the second out, threw past second base and into deep right field.

Yoenis Cespedes, the former Athletics outfielder who created a stir before the game when he told an Oakland newspaper he'd like to finish his career with the Athletics, had three hits.

Marcus Semien had four hits and two RBIs for the Athletics while Rajai Davis reached base four times in five plate appearances and scored two runs.

Ryon Healy (first-inning RBI single) and Khris Davis (fifth-inning sacrifice fly) also produced for Oakland, which pulled within 7-5 in the eighth on Jed Lowrie's pinch-hit RBI single and Semien's second RBI single. But Jerry Blevins relieved closer Addison Reed with the bases loaded and one out and retired Yonder Alonso on a pop-out before striking out Khris Davis.

Blevins then set the side down in order in the ninth to earn his first save. Hansel Robles (5-1), the second of six Mets pitchers, earned the win with a scoreless sixth inning. Starter Steven Matz allowed three runs on nine hits and no walks while striking out five over five innings.

Athletics starter Paul Blackburn (1-1) took the loss after allowing four runs on six hits and one walk while striking out one over 5 1/3 innings.

The Athletics opened the game with three straight singles off Matz, the last of which, by Healy, scored Davis.

Blackburn retired the first eight batters he faced before Matz singled. Conforto homered on the next pitch to put the Mets up 2-1.

The Athletics top three batters all singled consecutively again in the fifth, when Davis scored on Semien's single. Semien then scored on Khris Davis' sacrifice fly.

NOTES: The Athletics recalled RHP Frankie Montas and 3B Matt Olson from Triple-A Nashville. Those moves filled the roster spots created Wednesday, when RHP Michael Brady and RHP Zach Neal were optioned to Nashville. ... The Athletics also signed 1B Chris Carter to a minor league contract Friday. ... Mets 2B Neil Walker (left hamstring) ran the bases before the game and is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Las Vegas on Saturday, one day later than expected. ... Mets SS Jose Reyes went 0-for-4 and remains stuck on 499 career stolen bases.