Mets’ Tyrone Taylor makes Carlos Mendoza look like ‘genius’ after lineup shakeup

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Tyrone Taylor, an ostensible fourth outfielder, thought his surprising ascension up the Mets lineup, all the way to No. 2, was “cool.” 

It does not sound as if it will last, but it was cool while it lasted. 

Taylor, a player whose on-field performance seems much more impressive than his .236 average and .679 OPS, immediately made manager Carlos Mendoza look smart in Taylor’s first time batting in between Francisco Lindor and Brandon Nimmo. 

Pete Alonso was sent down to No. 5 in a move partly motivated by the matchup against righty Andre Pallante, partly by Alonso’s struggles and partly by Taylor’s bat. 

The No. 2 spot in the order came up in the fifth inning, when the Mets held a narrow, 2-0 lead and had loaded the bases with one out. 

“I already had hit a couple ground balls to third base,” Taylor said after the 6-0 win over the Cardinals at Busch Stadium. “I knew I had Nimmo hitting behind me, a really good hitter, so I was really trying to put the ball in the air.”