NEW YORK — Jeff McNeil made his first trip back to Citi Field since being traded in December and delivered two hits, including an RBI single in a three-run ninth inning, as the Athletics blanked the New York Mets 4-0 on Friday night.
McNeil, who spent his first eight big league seasons with the Mets and won the 2022 NL batting title, received a warm ovation before his first at-bat and tipped his helmet twice. He doubled in the fourth inning and made a defensive play at second base to rob Carson Benge of a hit to end the fifth.
The A’s have now thrown 25 consecutive scoreless innings against the Mets and Yankees dating to Tuesday night. Shea Langeliers drove in a run with a third-inning single off Mets starter Clay Holmes, and Denzel Clarke added a two-run single in the ninth.
Holmes (2-1) left after 5 1/3 innings with left hamstring tightness, allowing five hits. New York has managed just three runs on 20 hits during a three-game losing streak.
Jack Perkins (1-0) earned the win, allowing three hits over 2 1/3 innings in relief. J.T. Ginn made his first start of the season, giving up one hit over four innings.
The A’s defense turned a key double play in the sixth: with runners at the corners and no outs, first baseman Nick Kurtz fielded Jared Young’s grounder and threw to third to nab Francisco Lindor, who broke back to the bag after heading home. Perkins then induced a double-play grounder from Luis Robert Jr.
