Semien hits tiebreaking HR against old team and Baty adds pinch-hit slam as Mets beat Rangers 7-2

ARLINGTON, Texas -- — Marcus Semien hit a tiebreaking homer in the eighth inning against his former team and Brett Baty added a pinch-hit grand slam in the ninth as the New York Mets beat the Texas Rangers 7-2 on Wednesday night. Rookie right-hander Nolan McLean (12-10) allowed two runs and three hits over seven innings for the last-place Mets (73-85), who have won both games in Texas since ex-interim manager Andy Green was given the full-time position Tuesday. The Rangers (78-80) have lost three consecutive games but remain tied with Houston for the AL West lead after the Astros lost 6-5 in 10 innings at Seattle. Both teams have four games left, and Houston owns the head-to-head tiebreaker if they finish with the same record. Semien, traded by Texas to the Mets last November for Brandon Nimmo, launched his 15th homer this season off All-Star closer Jacob Latz (3-4) for a 3-2 lead. Semien, part of the Rangers' only World Series title in 2023, snapped an 0-for-13 slump with his first homer since Aug. 7. Latz entered with two on and one out in the seventh, the first time he’s appeared before the eighth inning since April 12. The Mets took a 2-0 lead in the third when Juan Soto followed Francisco Lindor’s two-out single with his 27th home run off starter Cody Bradford. It was Soto’s sixth homer this year against left-handed pitching. After that, Soto was intentionally walked three times — twice with runners on first and second and a left-hander on the mound. Texas tied the score at 2 in the fifth after McLean retired the Rangers’ first 12 batters. Nimmo, who spent 10 seasons with the Mets, led off with a sharp single to right field. He advanced to second on Ezequiel Duran’s groundout and scored on Jake Burger’s single. Evan Carter drove in the tying run when he beat out a potential double-play grounder. New York left the bases loaded in the fifth and seventh after Soto was intentionally walked. He was given another free pass with first base open and two outs in the ninth, but Bo Bichette then walked against Trevor Williams to load the bases before Baty went deep. Up next Rookie LHP Zac Thornton (5-5, 3.40 ERA) starts the series finale Thursday afternoon as the Mets look for a three-game sweep. RHP Kumar Rocker (5-11, 4.47) pitches for Texas. ------ See AP’s full MLB coverage here