J.D. Davis lined an R.B.I. single with two outs in the 10th inning to cap a two-run rally on Wednesday, giving the Mets a 4-3 victory over the Cleveland Indians.
A huge mental lapse by the All-Star reliever Brad Hand may have cost Cleveland the game when he failed to cover first base on a potential game-ending double-play grounder. Two batters later, Davis made the Indians pay with his first career game-ending hit.
The Mets won their fourth in a row and for the 20th time in 25 games, moving a season-high six games over .500. It was their 12th win in the last 13 at Citi Field, and they have more home games down the stretch than any other team.
Chasing the second National League wild-card spot, the Mets remained two games behind the Chicago Cubs, who beat San Francisco, 12-11. Philadelphia, which beat Boston, 5-2, is also two behind Chicago.
Cleveland, which leads the American League wild-card race, went ahead 3-2 in the top of the 10th on Carlos Santana’s two-out homer off Luis Avilan (4-1).
But Amed Rosario opened the Mets’ 10th with a double off Hand (6-4). Rosario moved to third on a sacrifice by Joe Panik, and an intentional walk to Pete Alonso put runners at the corners.
Michael Conforto followed with a sharp grounder to Santana at first base.
Santana zipped a throw to shortstop Francisco Lindor, who was in perfect position to make a relay. But no one was covering first — Hand initially watched the play, then inexplicably broke toward the plate as the tying run scored.
Wilson Ramos followed with an infield single, and Davis lined a drive that bounced to the wall in left.
The Mets were forced to go to the bullpen in the fifth after starter Marcus Stroman exited with tightness in his left hamstring. Stroman had an M.R.I.