Jesse Winker's walk-off home run leads Mets to win over Orioles after Sean Manaea flirts with perfection

NEW YORK — Jesse Winker didn’t start Wednesday’s game, but he certainly finished it.

Winker hit a pinch-hit, walk-off home run in the New York Mets’ 4-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday, capping an afternoon at Citi Field in which Sean Manaea took a perfect game into the sixth inning.

Winker led off the bottom of the ninth in place of No. 9 hitter Harrison Bader, then sent a 98.5-mph offering from Seranthony Dominguez over the wall in left-center for his second career walk-off homer.

It was the first home run in a Mets uniform for Winker, who was acquired in a pre-deadline trade with Washington last month.

Manaea retired the first 17 batters he faced, using a four-pitch mix that included a sharp sweeper and a four-seam fastball he dialed up to 95 mph.

He ultimately took a no-decision, however, after allowing three runs on three hits over seven-plus innings while striking out nine.

Manaea’s pursuit of perfection ended on his 73rd pitch, when he plunked touted rookie Jackson Holiday with a 95-mph fastball with two outs in the sixth. Baltimore broke up the no-hit bid on the very next pitch when Austin Slater crushed a flat sinker over the right-field wall for a two-run home run that tied the game, 2-2.

The Mets retook the lead, 3-2, in the seventh inning on a solo home run from Mark Vientos.

Manaea returned to the mound to start the eighth, but after Colton Cowser reached on a slow-rolling infield single to lead off the inning, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza lifted the starter for reliever Jose Butto.

Manaea threw 90 pitches and exited to a standing ovation.

Butto walked the next two hitters before surrendering a game-tying sacrifice fly to Adley Rutschman.

Wednesday marked the fourth time in five games that Manaea pitched seven innings, and the sixth time since the start of July. He boasts a 2.33 ERA over his last 11 starts.

The Citi Field crowd grew increasingly rowdy as Manaea racked up outs to begin his outing.

Manaea struck out the side in the third inning, using an up-and-in four-seamer to retire a swinging Cowser; a knee-high sweeper to freeze Ramon Urias; and a high, 94-mph sinker to overpower Holliday.

The Mets’ infield made several strong defensive plays behind Manaea, including for the second out of the sixth inning, when Vientos ranged to his right, scooped a slow grounder and fired it across the diamond to beat Urias.

Francisco Lindor hit his 25th home run of the season with a third-inning solo shot, making him the first shortstop in MLB history with three seasons of 25 homers and 25 stolen bases.

The Mets entered Wednesday 2 1/2 games behind the Braves for the third and final National League wild-card spot. With the win, they improved to 66-61 and finished a nine-game homestand at 5-4.

With wins on Monday and Wednesday, the Mets helped out the crosstown Yankees, who began the day a half-game behind Baltimore for first place in the American League East.

Up next for the Mets is their second 10-game road trip of the month. This trip again takes them to the West Coast, where they are set to begin a four-game series in San Diego on Thursday night.

____