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          New York Mets

          Rapid Reaction: Mets 5, Red Sox 4

          • Adam Rubin, ESPN Staff WriterAug 30, 2015, 08:15 PM
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              Adam Rubin has covered the Mets since 2003. He's a graduate of Mepham High School on Long Island and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He joined ESPNNewYork after spending 10 years at the New York Daily News.
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          NEW YORK -- Michael Cuddyer has been a productive player since his return from the disabled list.

          Cuddyer had three hits, including a tiebreaking RBI single in the seventh against Heath Hembree, and the New York Mets salvaged the series finale with a 5-4 win against the Boston Red Sox on Sunday at Citi Field.

          The Mets (72-58) maintained a 5½-game lead for the top spot in the National League East.

          Since returning from an absence to rest a bone bruise below his left kneecap, Cuddyer is hitting .375 (18-for-48) with two homers and eight RBIs in 17 games (10 starts). He plated Daniel Murphy in the seventh inning, a half-inning after the Mets squandered a two-run lead.

          The Red Sox had pulled within 4-3 in the top half of the seventh when Jackie Bradley Jr. delivered a pinch-hit RBI double with two outs, which chased Noah Syndergaard at 111 pitches.

          Hansel Robles took over and coaxed a fly ball from Mookie Betts. However, the baseball dropped inside the left-field line -- surprisingly beyond the range of Cuddyer -- and Betts hustled for a game-tying triple as Bradley scored.

          Tyler Clippard entered and struck out Pablo Sandoval to stop the bleeding and preserve a 4-4 score.

          Syndergaard was charged with four runs on six hits, a wild pitch and an intentional walk in 6 2/3 innings in a no-decision.

          Clippard also tossed a perfect eighth. Jeurys Familia handled the ninth for his 35th save despite the first two batters of the inning reaching base.

          Juan-derful: With David Wright having returned from the DL, Mets manager Terry Collins shoehorned Juan Uribe into the lineup Sunday by placing him at second base. Uribe had a mostly uneventful day in the field ... and a critical hit at the plate.

          A half-inning after David Ortiz staked the Red Sox to a 2-1 lead with a two-run homer in the sixth against Syndergaard, Murphy singled and Cuddyer walked to open the bottom half. Uribe, whose playing time has diminished with Wright having returned from spinal stenosis, followed with a two-run double against left-hander Wade Miley. Anthony Recker added an RBI single later in the frame as the Mets opened a 4-2 lead.

          Uribe was making his second start of the season at second base. Before appearing there for the Atlanta Braves on June 6, Uribe had not manned the position since 2011. Uribe departed for a defensive replacement after seven innings.

          Yer out: Curtis Granderson had a prolonged conversation with plate umpire Joe West after being called out on strikes in the third inning for a second straight at-bat. Hitting coach Kevin Long then was ejected by West after barking from the dugout.

          What’s next: The Mets welcome the Philadelphia Phillies to Citi Field. The Amazin’s swept the Phillies in four games last week at Citizens Bank Park to improve to 12-1 in the season series. Bartolo Colon, who threw an 11-pitch inning in relief on Saturday, starts Monday’s 7:10 p.m. ET opener. Colon (11-11, 4.65 ERA) opposes right-hander Jerad Eickhoff (1-1, 2.25). Right-handed reliever Addison Reed, acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks, is due to join the Mets on Monday.