Rays end Mets’ 7-game winning streak with 5-4 victory

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- Grady Sizemore and Kevin Kiermaier each drove in two runs to erase an early deficit as the Tampa Bay Rays stopped the NL East-leading New York Mets' seven-game winning streak with a 5-4 victory Saturday night.

Tampa Bay relievers Xavier Cedeno, Steve Geltz, Jake McGee and Brad Boxberger, who pitched the ninth for his 28th save, combined for four hitless innings. Rays starter Nathan Karns (7-5) allowed four runs and eight hits in five innings.

Curtis Granderson homered twice for the Mets, who blew a 3-0 first-inning lead.

The Rays went ahead 5-4 in the fourth when John Jaso drew a walk from Noah Syndergaard (6-6), stole his first base of the season, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on Evan Longoria's infield single.

Syndergaard, who was 4-1 with a 1.80 ERA in his previous nine starts, gave up five runs, eight hits, two walks and had six strikeouts over four innings.

After falling into the early three-run hole, the Rays responded with four runs and six hits in the bottom of the first. Jaso hit a leadoff double and scored on Sizemore's homer. Kiermaier made it 4-3 on a two-out, two-run single with the bases loaded.

Kiermaier appeared to hurt his leg sliding while advancing to second base on a throw to third on the play, but remained in the game.

Granderson homered on the second pitch from Karns, and Lucas Duda had a two-run double as the Mets jumped out to a 3-0 lead.

Granderson tied Jose Reyes (2006) for the Mets record for a single season with his sixth leadoff homer this year. Granderson has 34 in his career.

The outfielder tied it at 4 on a solo shot in the second. It was his 17th career multihomer game.

The announced crowd was 31,042, the Rays' second home sellout this season and first since opening day.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Mets: 3B David Wright (back) remains on schedule to start a minor league rehab assignment Monday. ... OF Michael Cuddyer (left knee) played in his second rehab game with Class A St. Lucie and should be back Monday.

Rays: C Curt Casali left after two innings with a head bruise after being hit one inning earlier by a back swing. ... OF Desmond Jennings (left knee) is 2 for 18 through his first six games with Triple-A Durham.

UP NEXT

Mets: Sunday starter Bartolo Colon (10-10) is 9-5 with a 4.00 ERA in 23 starts against Tampa Bay, including an 0-4 mark in his last seven.

Rays: RHP Chris Archer (10-8) snapped a career-worst four-game skid by beating the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday.

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