From the studio to the batter’s box, Jose Iglesias is racking up the hit singles.
The “OMG” singer is moonlighting as a platoon second baseman who continues to threaten to turn into more than that.
The righty-hitting Iglesias, who gets his starts at second base against opposing lefties, was left in the game against righty reliever Derek Law and responded with the go-ahead, two-run single in the Mets’ eventual 6-2 win over the Nationals at Citi Field on Wednesday.
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With the bases loaded and no outs in the sixth inning of a tie game, manager Carlos Mendoza did not call for Jeff McNeil.
The 34-year-old Iglesias, who somehow has turned into MLB’s best clutch hitter, bounced a hit up the middle and motioned toward the dugout on his way to first base to fire up his teammates in a game they were suddenly leading.
“He’s just life for us,” said winning pitcher Luis Severino. “Even when he’s not playing, we got his energy in the dugout. I’m the ‘Oh My God’ sign [holder] when I’m not pitching. I’m ready to get that thing out there when somebody hits a homer. It keeps everybody happy.”
Two batters later, Harrison Bader grounded into what appeared to be an inning-ending double play, but second baseman Luis Garcia Jr. threw wildly to first. First baseman Juan Yepez picked up the ball that ricocheted off the railing and threw home a split second too late, allowing Iglesias to slide in safely for an insurance run.
Iglesias quickly got to his feet, looked at the fans behind home plate and threw his right arm into the air, urging the 24,887 on hand to get to their feet.
“It’s the energy,” Iglesias said. “It’s the energy that we need. It’s the energy that we have.”
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The Mets, who were 11 games under .500 in early June, have ridden that energy to within a half-game of the final NL wild card.
The Mets (46-45) are a hot streak away from solidifying themselves as trade-deadline buyers. In winning four of five, already taking a series from the Nationals before Thursday’s finale and awaiting the Rockies before the break, they have the makings of that hot streak.
“We know where we’re at, but it’s still July,” Mendoza said. “And I think the mindset here is ‘Take care of one day at a time.’ ”
Maybe the biggest difference between the cold early-season Mets and the June-July hot Mets is a lineup that has gotten both potent and deep.
Perhaps the largest key has been the return of Francisco Alvarez, who continues to impress at and behind the plate.
But Iglesias is certainly among the variables that have led to the midseason turnaround.
While McNeil continues to scuffle, Iglesias keeps playing a winning tune.
After his 3-for-4 night, Iglesias’ average is up to .338. That pales in comparison to his .526 average (10-for-19) with runners in scoring position.
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“I have no idea,” Iglesias, whose 27 games played this season have resulted in an 18-9 record, said about his clutch streak. “I’m just trying to give my 100 percent every single at-bat, every single pitch, and try to put the team in a good position.”
Until the game-changing sixth, the Mets’ only offense against Nationals starter Patrick Corbin (who entered with a 5.49 ERA) was a Brandon Nimmo home run in the first inning, It was Nimmo’s third straight game with a dinger since learning Sunday he did not crack the All-Star Game.
Severino (6 ¹/₃ innings of two-run ball on four hits, three walks and two hit batters) pitched well enough to win and lowered his ERA to 3.78, though his biggest blemish came with his legs.
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The Nationals scored two runs on a bloop single from Yepez, the second because Severino did not back up home plate and Tyrone Taylor’s throw skittered under Francisco Alvarez.
The Mets’ offense ensured that would not be how the game would be remembered.
Before Iglesias’ go-ahead hit in the sixth, Mark Vientos bounced a double off the wall to tie it. The Mets added on in the eighth, when Iglesias — who else? — fought a double down the first-base line before scoring on a triple from Taylor.
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Jake Diekman, Danny Young and Jose Butto (first career save) combined for 2 ²/₃ scoreless innings in relief.
Considering the way the Mets’ bullpen has been going, there might have been a few “Oh my God” utterings around the dugout.
