Mets' big bats continue warming up in victory over Diamondbacks

PHOENIX — Finally, the Mets’ coldest bats are getting hot.

Francisco Lindor, James McCann and Dominic Smith each had three hits in the Mets’ 7-6 win against the Diamondbacks on Wednesday, the latest in a series of positive signs that those individuals are staring to bat more like they expect.

The seesaw of a game ended with the Mets (27-21) on top via Pete Alonso’s RBI single in the ninth. His ground ball through the left side of the infield against Arizona reliever Joakim Soria scored Lindor, who led off with a double.

Four Mets relievers — led by Robert Gsellman, who tossed shutout 3 2/3 innings — held Arizona to one run in 8 2/3 innings. Lefthanded starter David Peterson got one out and allowed five runs.

That was enough for the Mets to nab a series win against the Diamondbacks, who at 20-37 have the worst record in the National League.

"It’s a huge win," manager Luis Rojas said. "G was the key. Him getting us all the way to the fifth, that was outstanding. That was tremendous."

Third baseman Jonathan Villar, a key contributor with so many starters out hurt, left in the sixth inning with right hamstring tightness. Rojas said he is day to day and had full strength and range of motion after exiting.

Led by the remaining regulars, the Mets banged out 16 hits in all.

Lindor has a five-game hit streak in which he is hitting .391.

McCann in his past five games has three doubles and two homers — after entering that stretch with one double and two homers on the season.

Smith is batting .474 in his past six games. That includes a home run on Tuesday night, his first since April 13.

That trio, plus Alonso, will be critical in the coming weeks with Brandon Nimmo, J.D. Davis, Michael Conforto or Jeff McNeil close to returning.

"I’m confident I can hit any pitch right now," Lindor said. "I’m hitting the pitches that I’m supposed to hit — hard now."

Rojas added: "There’s a good sequence of guys that are swinging well right now. Now we gotta keep building that consistency."

In his season debut, Seth Lugo allowed one run in two innings.

All that came after a chaotic start, during which Peterson and Diamondbacks lefthander Madison Bumgarner combined to allow 10 runs in 2 1/3 innings.

Bumgarner gave up five runs — four in the first inning, three on McCann’s three-run home run — in two innings. He exited with shoulder discomfort and was slated for an MRI Wednesday night.

The Mets began the game with six consecutive hits, the second time in franchise history they achieved that. The other instance: June 25, 1979, against the Pirates.

Peterson (5.89 ERA) quickly gave back the Mets’ four-run lead. He induced multiple ground balls that might have been double plays with a normal defensive alignment but they turned into hits in the Mets’ shift, a dynamic he said was frustrating. Peterson threw just 35 pitches before Rojas pulled him for Gsellman.

"The lack of command hurt me, and they were able to get timely hits to make it hurt," said Peterson, who walked three (to go with three hits).

His start was pushed back four days by rainouts and the Mets preferring to keep other pitchers on a normal schedule.

"Any time you get off routine like that, it has an effect," Peterson said. "But my job is to deal with that and go out and give the team a chance to win."

The bullpen bailed him out.

"They’re a big part," Lindor said, "of why we are here."