Sean Manaea defusing critical jam led to latest stellar Mets outing

TORONTO — Sean Manaea’s day easily could have unraveled after he loaded the bases with nobody out to begin Wednesday’s fourth inning.

But the left-hander hasn’t been the Mets’ top starting pitcher in the second half by allowing big innings.

Manaea got three straight outs, with only one run scoring, and kept the Mets close enough to rally for a 6-2 victory over the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.

Manaea said the walk he issued to Will Wagner after he surrendered singles to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Ernie Clement is what bothered him about the inning.

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Overall, he lasted 6 ²/₃ innings and allowed one earned run on three hits and four walks with eight strikeouts.

It was a sixth straight start in which Manaea pitched into the seventh inning.

“I have been doing this my whole career and I just want to help this team win,” Manaea said. “I think going deep into the games is such a huge accomplishment.”

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Manager Carlos Mendoza was waiting to speak with David Peterson and pitching coach Jeremy Hefner before finalizing his rotation for the weekend series in Philadelphia following Thursday’s day off.

Jose Quintana and Luis Severino are set for Friday and Saturday and Mendoza has the option of using Peterson on normal rest for Sunday. Otherwise, Tylor Megill would get the start for the series finale.

If Megill doesn’t pitch against the Phillies, he would be slotted in to face the Nationals during the Mets’ next homestand. Megill is replacing Paul Blackburn, whose return from the injured list was scratched on Monday because of lower back discomfort.

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Pete Alonso was bumped to fifth in the batting order with Brandon Nimmo inserted at cleanup.

Alonso began the day with 14 strikeouts in his last 30 at-bats and owned a .167/.306/.300 slash line for September with only one homer.

“He’s been on and off, but he’s a threat,” Mendoza said. “Every time he’s at home plate you feel really good because if it’s a mistake he can hit it a long way and he can change the outcome of the game.”

Alonso’s lowest home run total for a full season is the 37 he hit in 2021. He’s got 31 this season with 16 games remaining.

“It’s probably not a season that we’re used to, but when you look at the numbers, he’s close to an .800 OPS and he’s got 30 homers,” Mendoza said. “We’re going to look back and say, ‘Wow, an average season for Pete is still a pretty good season.’ ”

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