KANSAS CITY -- Frankie Montas might have gotten a late start this season, but he’s making up for lost time.
In just his fourth outing for the Mets, Montas worked five-plus strong innings on a sweltering day as New York held off the Royals, 3-1, on Saturday at Kauffman Stadium. It was the second win for Montas in a week, and it provided another encouraging sign that he might be primed for a big second half after a right lat strain derailed the early portion of his season.
The Mets couldn’t get much going offensively against the Royals, who went with a bullpen approach after scheduled starter Michael Lorenzen turned ill on Saturday morning. Juan Soto provided most of the attack with a two-run homer to right field in the fourth that traveled a Statcast-projected 435 feet.
Otherwise, it was up to the New York pitching staff to hold on. Montas surrendered back-to-back doubles to Kyle Isbel and Jonathan India to open the sixth as the Royals drew within 2-1. But reliever Reed Garrett came on, and after Garrett’s throwing error on a pickoff attempt moved India to third, the right-hander managed to strand India and preserve the New York lead.
Edwin Díaz worked the final two innings for his first six-out save of the season.
Montas didn’t allow a walk for a second consecutive start, and he seems to be gaining steam.
“Really good,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said of Montas. “From the very first inning, you saw how the ball was coming out. The velo, a heavy sinker at times. The split got swing and miss, and the cutter. … I thought he had everything working.”
Montas is looking for incremental progress after making his first start on June 24. He threw 83 pitches (55 strikes) on Saturday and has yet to get to 90.
“I thought I threw the ball pretty well,” Montas said. “Attacking the hitters, trying to get early swings. I’m trying to get a little better each start.”
Getting a second win for Montas required a lot from the Mets in their overall game. There was Soto’s power, some brilliant defense from center fielder Tyrone Taylor and second baseman Luisangel Acuña and stout relief pitching. New York’s bullpen did not allow a hit over four innings.
With one game left before the All-Star break, Soto is hitting .265 with 23 homers and 56 RBIs. He won’t be playing in the All-Star Game, but Soto is pleased with what he has accomplished for the Mets to date.
“I feel like my power showed up in the first half,” Soto said. “I’ve had to battle from the beginning to where we are now. The power is there, so I just have to keep making good decisions. Just try to keep improving my game.”
With the heart of the Royals’ lineup coming up in the eighth, Mendoza turned to Díaz. Bobby Witt Jr. drew a one-out walk and was initially called safe at second on a steal attempt. But for the second game in a row in a key late-game moment, a Royals runner was caught by replay coming off the bag. When Witt was called out upon review, it enabled Díaz to keep his pitch count down, and Mendoza decided to use him for a two-inning save.
“We’re getting to the All-Star break,” Mendoza said. “I thought if there is a time to use him [multiple innings], this is the time.”
The Mets will go for a three-game sweep on Sunday -- a game that will feature left-hander Sean Manaea's season debut -- and hope to ride off into the All-Star break on a high note.
“Pretty decent first half,” Soto said of a Mets team that now stands at 55-41 and continues to battle for supremacy in the National League East. “Team-wise, we did a really good job, and we just have to keep going. We have a lot of talent.”