The New York Mets separated from the Houston Astros late and finished with a 6-2 victory at Citi Field. Jared Young drove in three runs on three hits, supplying the middle-order production that changed a tied game in the fifth inning. Nolan McLean carried the Mets through seven innings, limiting Houston to two runs and protecting the bullpen while New York controlled the final five innings.

The Mets broke the tie with three runs in the fifth, with Young’s bat central to the offensive turn. He finished 3-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored, producing in the at-bats that converted New York’s opportunities into a lead. Houston answered with one run in the eighth, and Yordan Alvarez supplied the primary resistance with a 2-for-3 performance that included a home run and two RBI, but the Mets answered with two runs in the bottom half to remove the game from reach. Francisco Alvarez added two RBI for New York, while Brett Baty went 2-for-3.

The Mets moved to 61-75 by pairing McLean’s efficient start with timely production from Young and support from the lower half of the lineup. Houston fell to 68-68 despite Alvarez’s power, and the loss underscored the cost of an offense that could not sustain pressure after the opening inning. New York’s clearest path forward is the formula shown here: extend its starters, force the decisive matchup in the middle innings, and capitalize when runners reach base.