Mets’ Flores goes from tears to cheers

In the span of 48 hours he went from thinking he was an ex-Met to being the toast of New York.

With the victory, the Mets close to within two games of first-place Washington in the National League East. The two teams play again Saturday and Sunday night.

Harvey allowed one run on five hits in 7 2/3 innings. The left-hander dominated during the first three innings of the game, striking out three batters and facing just one over the minimum.

A few minutes before the 4 p.m. trade deadline, the Mets gave their meager offense a major boost by obtaining slugger Yoenis Cespedes from Detroit for two minor league pitchers.

Flores has three game-ending RBIs this season.

Flores homered off Washington reliever Felipe Rivero (1-1, 2.11 ERA), who had put in two flawless innings of relief before the leadoff homer by Flores.

“Great feeling”, said a grinning Flores, who was asked if he’d ever been cheered that way before.

The 23-year-old infielder tossed aside his helmet and was swarmed by teammates who rushed to home plate to celebrate. “For tonight to happen the way it did, it’s pretty unreal”. Nationals RF Bryce Harper went 0-for-5 and was ejected for arguing with home plate umpire Jerry Meals after an 11th-inning strikeout….

Harper, now 0 for 17 against Harvey, had reached base safely in a career-best 26 consecutive games before going hitless in five at-bats. That’s when Yunel Escobar came through with a game-tying, 2-out RBI single up the middle, dashing the Citi Field crowd’s hopes and leaving Harvey with no decision.

The trade that would have sent Flores, along with injured right-handed pitcher Zack Wheeler, to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for center fielder Carlos Gomez fell apart at the last second late Wednesday night, but not after news about it trickled out and everyone in the Mets dugout and in the stands thought Flores was getting traded. After Flores’ RBI single in the fourth provided a 1-0 lead, Eric Campbell eventually took a called third strike on a full-count offering from Gonzalez to leave the bases loaded.

Flores received multiple ovations throughout the game, starting with his diving stop on a grounder during the first inning and continuing during his first at-bat of the game in the second.

Mets: C Travis d’Arnaud came off the disabled list and returned to the lineup. Nationals RHP Stephen Strasburg (left oblique strain), is expected to make his final rehab start for Triple-A Syracuse on Monday….

After the Nationals tied the game, the pitcher’s duel continued.