For a stretch last month, the teams ahead of the Mets in the National League wild-card race seemed to win every day.
Now, it’s manager Carlos Mendoza’s crew causing similar angst for those same teams.
These are the best of times for the Mets, who Friday night received yet another well-rounded performance to beat the Reds 6-4 in 10 innings at Citi Field for a season-best eighth straight victory.
Mark Vientos’ second homer of the game, a two-run blast against lefty Justin Wilson, won it.
The celebrating Mets tore off Vientos’ jersey as he crossed home plate.
The Mets received strong relief from Reed Garrett, Edwin Diaz and Jose Butto, who dominated over 3 1/3 innings.
Diaz struck out the side in the ninth after three of the four batters that faced Garrett whiffed.
Sean Manaea allowed only three hits over 6 2/3 innings, but two were two-run homers and he departed with it tied 4-4.
Overall, the left-hander surrendered four earned runs and struck out nine.
It marked the first time since July 19 in Miami that Manaea allowed more than three earned runs.
Vientos smashed a two-run homer in the first inning that gave the Mets a 2-0 lead.
Francisco Lindor singled leading off for the Mets — extending his hitting streak to a career-best 16 games (he’s now reached base in 34 in a row) — before Vientos’ line drive cleared the left-field fence.