An expanded — and healthier — Mets roster has made it harder for Mickey Callaway to fill out his lineup card. Todd Frazier isn’t making the task any easier.
Earning Friday’s start over the hot-hitting J.D. Davis because of his defense, Frazier continued his strong stretch at the plate, sparking two run-scoring innings while going 1-for-2 with a run and a walk in the 5-4 win over the Phillies. After batting .207 in July and August, the veteran third baseman is hitting .375 (9-for-22) over his past eight games.
“He is doing a heck of a job. He did another great job tonight,” Callaway said. “He was probably our MVP of the game.”
He made some great plays at third. … A lot of balls came to him. He got on base a few times, started those rallies.”
Frazier initially put the Mets in front after leading off the third inning with a single — marking his 1,000th career hit — and then scored on a Jeff McNeil single. In a tie game in the eighth, Frazier opened with a leadoff walk, leading to a pair of Mets runs.
“It means a lot,” Frazier said of his 1,000th hit. “There’s a lot of milestones you want to reach. … It’s gonna be a keepsake for me and I couldn’t be happier. On a good night, too.”
The Mets can add another leg to Jed Lowrie’s rehab tour.
Suiting up Friday night for Single-A Brooklyn, Lowrie went 0-for-4 in the 12th game of his rehab stint, but the Cyclones’ semifinal-clinching win will allow the veteran to continue playing for the Mets’ only minor league affiliate whose season hasn’t concluded.
With three weeks remaining in the Mets’ regular season, no timeline has been set for Lowrie’s return to the majors. The veteran infielder signed a two-year, $20 million deal with the Mets in the offseason, but has yet to appear with the team because of various injuries.
“I think talking to him, he understands where we’re at in the season,” Callaway said. “At some point, games in the minor leagues are gonna end and he feels like he’s getting closer and closer.”
Michael Conforto hit his career-best 29th homer of the season, and is now one RBI shy of his career-high mark (82) set last season. … Steven Matz pitched 5 ²/₃ innings, allowing two runs, six hits and three walks, while striking out four. His 109 pitches were his most thrown since June 14. … Wilson Ramos reached base safely for the 28th straight game.
While Marcus Stroman makes his sixth start with the Mets Saturday, Anthony Kay — the Mets’ 2016 first-round pick, dealt to Toronto in the trade for Stroman — will make his major league debut with the Blue Jays against the Rays.
Triple-A Syracuse manager Tony DeFrancesco, outfield/baserunning coordinator Marlon Anderson and hitting coordinator Ryan Anderson were all brought up from the minors to join the Mets for the rest of the season.
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