On Tuesday afternoon, DJ Stewart grabbed a first-baseman’s mitt and took extra reps at a foreign position for a natural corner outfielder.
Stewart wants to prove himself as valuable as possible to a team that has more than a few bats worth keeping.
If he can slide to first base and spell Pete Alonso from time to time, maybe he has found a separator skill that ensures he sticks in the majors leagues.
Or maybe his bat will prove strong enough that anything he brings defensively would be a bonus, like relish on a hot dog.
Stewart, who survived what might have been a cut-day Tuesday afternoon, blasted the go-ahead, three-run home run in the Mets’ 4-2 win over the Cubs in front of 22,880 stuffed fans on Dollar Dog Night at Citi Field.
The Mets (15-14) moved back over .500 and evened the four-game series behind a slugger whose roster spot had been in some doubt.
When Starling Marte was placed on the bereavement list this weekend, Mark Vientos was called up and performed.
The power bat hit enough (including a game-winning homer Sunday) that there was speculation whether the Mets would keep him in the majors once Marte returned, perhaps optioning a bench bat such as Stewart.
Marte returned to the club and the Mets chose to stick with Stewart, who rewarded them quickly.
The Mets and Cubs were tied at 1-1 through 5 ¹/₂ innings before the Chicago defense allowed Stewart a chance that he did not waste.
The Mets’ threat began with J.D. Martinez grounding harmlessly to shortstop Dansby Swanson, who spiked the throw to first to allow Martinez to reach.
With two out, Tyrone Taylor smacked a single, putting a pair of runners on for Stewart.
The second pitch Stewart saw — a cutter from reliever Adbert Alzolay — he blasted an estimated 388 feet to right and watched it go.
Stewart dropped his bat, remained in the batter’s box and admired the second-deck shot that became his fourth homer of the year and raised his OPS to .849.
Like Mets fans — who ate (or at least bought) 44,269 hot dogs, the team said — Stewart saw his opportunity and made the most of it.
Last season, the former first-round pick became a rare bright side of the second half when he emerged for a helpless Mets club.
He has carried the hot bat into this season even with sporadic playing time, only in the lineup Tuesday in right field because Marte had been away from the team for a few days.
Stewart needed just one swing to make his presence felt.
The Mets did not need much else from their offense on another strong but short night from Sean Manaea.
In what has become a trend, the lefty allowed just one run but in five innings, his problem a pitch count (92) that continues to rise because of too many walks (four).
The only run Manaea allowed came in the second, when two walks and a single loaded the bases with one out.
Miguel Amaya lifted a sacrifice fly, but Manaea responded by punching out Alexander Canario, one of his three strikeouts on the night.
Through six starts, Manaea’s ERA sits at 3.07, but in just 29 ¹/₃ innings — just under five per start.
Manaea has recorded an out in the sixth inning once, back in his April 1 debut.
Four Mets relievers allowed one run on one hit in four innings.
Jorge Lopez recorded his first save of the season after Edwin Diaz had pitched two straight days.
The Mets had given their pitching staff early support with more assistance from the Cubs’ defense.
Francisco Lindor singled in the first and got picked off, but Patrick Wisdom’s throw from first base to second base sailed into the outfield.
Lindor was credited with the steal and took third base on the error, then scored on an Alonso sacrifice fly.
Mets fans could cheer, a feeling much better than however they felt later in the night.
