Mets blast by Royals to cut deficit

Associated Press

NEW YORK

Two balls launched over the wall, one fired over an opponent’s head and just like that, David Wright and the New York Mets are right back in this World Series.

Wright homered and drove in four runs, Curtis Granderson also connected and rookie Noah Syndergaard set a nasty tone at the start of a 9-3 victory against the Kansas City Royals that trimmed New York’s deficit to 2-1 Friday night.

Shut down at the plate in Kansas City, the Mets broke loose with 12 hits from nine different players as they chased Yordano Ventura early during the first Series game at Citi Field.

Pitching on Halloween eve, Syndergaard recovered from a scary start and went six innings, giving the Mets the winning performance they didn’t get from fellow young starters Matt Harvey and Jacob deGrom at Kauffman Stadium.

Another rookie, hometown favorite Steven Matz, tries to pull New York even Saturday night in Game 4 when he faces 36-year-old Chris Young and the Royals.

After the Mets fell behind in the first inning, Granderson started the bottom half with a single and Wright hit his first World Series home run, recharging a packed crowd of 44,781 that included Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock and Dennis Miller.

The captain, who entered batting .182 without an RBI in his first World Series, added a two-run single on Kelvin Herrera’s first pitch during a four-run sixth that broke it open. Pinch-hitter Juan Uribe, just back from a chest injury, had an RBI single in his first plate appearance since Sept. 25. Slumping slugger Yoenis Cespedes added a sacrifice fly.

Hoping to rekindle the comeback spirit of 1986, when the Mets rallied from an 0-2 World Series hole to beat Boston for their most recent championship, the team played its highlight video from that year on the large scoreboard during batting practice.

Mets 9, Royals 3

Kansas CityNew York

abrhbiabrhbi

AEscor ss4010Grndrs rf5322

Zobrist 2b4110DWrght 3b5124

L.Cain cf4010DnMrp 2b4000

Hosmer 1b4001Cespds cf-lf3011

Mostks 3b4010Duda 1b4110

S.Perez c3110TdArnd c4020

AGordn lf3010Confort lf2011

Rios rf3111Lagars ph-cf2110

KHerrr p0000WFlors ss3100

Madson p0000Syndrg p2110

Medlen p0000Uribe ph1111

KMorls ph1000A.Reed p0000

Ventur p0000Niwnhs ph1000

DDuffy p0000Clipprd p0000

Mondes ph1000Famili p0000

Hochvr p0000

FMorls p0000

Orland rf1000

Totals32372Totals369129

Kansas City120000000—3

New York20210400x—9

LOB—Kansas City 5, New York 6. 2B—Zobrist (3), T.d’Arnaud (1). HR—Granderson (2), D.Wright (1). SB—A.Escobar (1). S—Ventura. SF—Cespedes.

IPHRERBBSO

Kansas City

Ventura L,0-13 1-375501

D.Duffy2-300001

Hochevar110002

F.Morales1-324400

K.Herrera2-310011

Madson110001

Medlen100002

New York

Syndergaard W,1-0673326

A.Reed100000

Clippard100000

Familia100001

HBP—by F.Morales (W.Flores). PB—T.d’Arnaud.

Umpires—Home, Mike Winters; First, Jim Wolf; Second, Alfonso Marquez; Third, Gary Cederstrom; Left, Mike Everitt; Right, Mark Carlson.

T—3:22. A—44,781 (41,922).