FLUSHING - The one thing Mets' fans can't complain about is the defense.
They ranked fourth in the National Leagye in defensive efficiency and have 16 errors over the first 36 games, putting them ninth in the Senior Circuit.
So, when New York kicked it around early with two errors behind starter Marcus Stroman, a little forgiveness seemed a natural response. Some offensive apologies were also welcomed.
Brandon Nimmo, re-instated to the starting lineup in hopes of heating up a frigid bat, answered with a key RBI single while Michael Conforto and Jeff McNeil each clubbed homers to power the Mets past Cincinnati, 6-1, for their third straight win.
Stroman, who was a defensive culprit with an errant throw, scrapped through five innings and 101 pitches to earn the victory and improve to 5-0. He helped his cause with an RBI single in the fourth when the Mets tacked on two runs to build a 4-1 cushion. This dude competes!
Conforto popped his 11th homer of the season in the fourth and McNeill blasted a solo shot in the fifth. Dom Smith, playing in place of Pete Alonso, who is still nursing that bruised thigh, went 3 for 4 with three singles, Nimmo was 2 for 5 with a triple and McNeil knocked in a pair of runs.
Lefty Daniel Zamora threw two scoreless innings of relief after replacing Stroman with Dellin Betances and Robert Gsellman each tossing a frame to wrap of the triumph.
