Sean Manaea allowed just two hits and threw 77 pitches in five innings before an 87-minute delay that began in the bottom of the fifth helped force the left-hander from the game on Wednesday night.
It was an unfortunate break for Manaea and the Mets, who could have used more length with their bullpen in tatters — but they could hardly complain after completing a Subway Series sweep over the Yankees at Citi Field with a 12-2 win.
But in some respects, Manaea was fortunate to have not given up any runs, getting three double plays in the first four innings — including one by Alex Verdugo that ended the first with the bases loaded after a visit from pitching coach Jeremy Hefner.
“I tend to overthink things and that leads to a lot of walks,’’ Manaea said, who issued five of them, following David Peterson’s five walks in Tuesday’s win. “I have to let stuff play.”
Manaea settled down after the first.
Kodai Senga is scheduled to throw live batting practice against minor leaguers at Citi Field on Thursday, Mendoza said.
The right-hander said Tuesday he hoped to begin a minor league rehab assignment as soon as next week. He’s missed all season with a strained shoulder.
Told Mark Vientos credited him with his approach heading into his two-homer game against Gerrit Cole on Tuesday, Carlos Beltran said he had a simple conversation with the third baseman while the Mets were in Chicago last weekend.
“I told him to just use that opposite-field power,’’ Beltran said. “You just have to figure out what you are as a hitter. Not many guys can hit a ball out like that the other way.”
Vientos went 1-for-3 with two RBIs in the Mets’ blowout victory.
The organization’s other young third baseman, Brett Baty, hit two more homers with Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday.
He’s hit five homers in his last seven games at Syracuse.
Baty excelled at Triple-A a year ago, as well, but that success has not translated to the majors and Vientos, after losing the battle for the Opening Day third base spot, has grabbed a hold of it since being recalled for good May 15.
There has been encouraging news on right-hander Shintaro Fujinami, still on the 15-day IL with a right shoulder strain.
He pitched a scoreless inning in a rehab game with the FCL Mets in Port St. Lucie on Tuesday and Mendoza said the 30-year-old, who signed with the Mets as a free agent during the offseason, is due to have at least one more outing there.
Fujinami pitched fairly well with the Orioles last season after an ugly start to the season with Oakland.
He hit 98 mph Tuesday.
The Mets improved to 10-3 in their last 13 home games against the Yankees and improved to an MLB-best 15-6 in June. … They hit three homers for a third straight game for the first time this year.
Even with right-hander Luis Gil on the mound for the Yankees on Wednesday, Mendoza went with Tyrone Taylor in right field, with DJ Stewart and the recently recalled Ben Gamel — both lefty-swingers — available.
Taylor rewarded Mendoza’s faith by blasting a three-run homer in the sixth inning of the Mets’ blowout win.
Gil has been tough on both right and left-handed hitters this year.
Harrison Bader had his third consecutive multi-hit game with a double and a homer. He’s 6-for-12 with three doubles and two homers in that stretch.
Joe Hudson, who spent the weekend as the Mets backup catcher with Luis Torrens on the paternity list, was outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse after being designated for assignment.
