Marcus Semien damaged his former team’s playoff hopes Wednesday night when he hit a tie-breaking solo homer in the eighth inning to help the visiting New York Mets defeat the Texas Rangers, 7-2, in the middle game of a three-game interleague series.
Rangers closer Jacob Latz (3-4), pressed into a tie game prior with American League West co-leading Texas in borderline must-win mode, wriggled out of a bases loaded jam in the seventh and retired the first two batters of the eighth before Semien launched a 388-foot homer to left.
The homer was the first since Aug. 7 for Semien, who was dealt to the Mets in exchange for Brandon Nimmo last November.
New York’s Juan Soto hit a two-run homer in the third and Brett Baty added insurance with a pinch-hit grand slam in the ninth for the Mets (73-85), who have won the first two games of the set.
Jake Burger had an RBI single in the fifth three batters before Evan Carter drove in the tying run by beating out the back end of a potential double play ball for the Rangers (78-80).
Texas entered play on Wednesday tied atop the American League West with the Houston Astros.
The Astros, who face the Seattle Mariners later Wednesday night, won the season series 9-4, which means Texas must win the division outright.
No baseball team has ever made the playoffs with a .500 or worse record in a full season.
Nolan McLean (12-10) capped an impressive rookie season by earning the win after allowing two runs on three hits and one walk, while striking out five over seven innings. McLean finished with a 3.16 ERA and 194 strikeouts over 31 starts and 179 2/3 innings.
Devin Williams, who was activated from the injured list Tuesday after missing seven weeks with a strained right shoulder, tossed a perfect eighth inning before Cionel Perez allowed one hit in the ninth.
Rangers starter Cody Bradford gave up two runs on four hits and no walks while striking out one over 4 1/3 innings.
