The Mets cut it to 7-2 in the fifth. Jeff McNeil (2-for-4) initially held up at third after Francisco Alvarez’s two-out double, but he scored after Grant McCray’s cut-off throw sneaked under Willy Adames’ glove.

The trouble started in the third — with the Mets up by a run — when Jung Hoo Lee singled to lead off the inning, stole second and reached third when Francisco Alvarez’s throw got away from Lindor at second. Lee scored on Patrick Bailey’s liner up the middle.

The Mets have developed a reputation for being able to fix back-end rotation arms, turning them into frontline starters. They might have struck out on Frankie Montas. The right-hander had another tough start Sunday afternoon when the San Francisco Giants took seven runs off of him in only four innings,