By MATT PIKE
Tyrone Taylor hit the game-tying homer to start a five-run fifth inning helping to power the New York Mets to a 7-3 win over the Kansas City Royals at Citi Field.
Taylor entered the game to replace an injured Mark Vientos. The Royals struggled to figure out their former prospect who started on the mound for the Mets as Sean Manaea had his longest start in 21 months. Manaea, who improved to 2-4 on the season, allowed six hits, three runs, two earned, and struck out six while completing seven innings for the first time since October 8th, 2024, when he earned the win for the Mets in Game 3 of the NL Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Lane Thomas hit Manaea’s first pitch into the left field seats for his ninth career leadoff homer to give the Royals an early 1-0 lead in the game. The Mets tied things up in the bottom of the second when Jared Young's RBI double drove in Carson Benge, but in the fourth inning, Bobby Witt Jr. homered to give Kansas City the lead back.
Taylor took over in center field for rookie A.J. Ewing, who made his big league debut at second after Brett Baty moved to third when Vientos left following the second inning. Interim manager Andy Green said following the game Vientos will go on the injured list.
After Taylor tied the game with his solo home run in the fifth, Bo Bichette lofted the go-ahead sacrifice fly, scoring Baty, and Carson Benge and Francisco Alvarez followed with RBI hits, driving in Juan Soto and Benge respectively, against Michael Wacha for a 6-2 lead. Wacha, who earned his first All-Star Game selection in 11 years last weekend, allowed six runs and six hits and struck out five in 4.2 innings.
Jac Caglianone chipped into the lead in the seventh inning with an RBI double, bringing home Nick Loftin. But in the bottom half of the inning Juan Soto hit a solo home run to put the game out of reach. Loftin led the Royals going 2-for-4, while Caglianone was 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Witt Jr and Thomas were both 1-for-4 with a home run and an RBI.
Kansas City will now head to Baltimore for a three game weekend series, the final three games of the first half of the MLB season before the All Star break. Luinder Avila (4-3, 5.05 ERA, 47K's) takes the mound for the Royals against Brandon Young (7-2, 3.38 ERA, 62K's) for the Orioles. First pitch is at 6:05pm, pregame will air at 5:30 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).
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