Francisco Alvarez got the green light and made it count.
With one swing from Alvarez, the Mets were rewarded for a solid night’s work against a tough opponent and got to celebrate on the base paths.
Alvarez’s first career walk-off homer gave the Mets a thrilling 4-3 victory over the Orioles at Citi Field for the perfect start to a 10-game stretch against top opponents.
Alvarez worked the count to 3-0 against Seranthony Dominguez with one out in the ninth before hitting a no-doubter to left-center.
The win was the Mets’ third in fourth games.
David Peterson was on the verge of a gem before balking in a run and allowing a solo homer to Ramon Urias, both with two outs in the seventh.
Overall, the left-hander allowed three runs, two of which were earned, on six hits with eight strikeouts and one walk.
It was a fourth straight start in which Peterson — who leads Mets starting pitchers with a 3.00 ERA — has surrendered two earned runs or fewer.
J.D. Martinez’s two-run homer in the first gave the Mets a 2-0 lead.
Mark Vientos singled before Martinez cleared the fence in right-center for just his second homer of the month.
The blast was his first at Citi Field since July 26.
With two outs in the inning, Starling Marte singled and stole second.
The stolen base was a positive sign from Marte in his second game back off the injured list after missing two months with a bone bruise in his right knee.
Tyrone Taylor (who started in left field a day after Brandon Nimmo departed with right shoulder discomfort) stroked an RBI single in the fourth that widened the Mets’ lead to 3-0.
Pete Alonso’s leadoff double started the rally before Alvarez drew a two-out walk and Taylor delivered.
Urias’ double helped the Orioles score an unearned run in the fifth.
Peterson’s pickoff attempt at second base sailed into center field, allowing Urias to reach third before Jackson Holliday’s ground out brought in the run.
Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso walked in the fifth, ending the outing for left-hander Trevor Rogers with two outs in the inning.
Colin Selby entered to strike out Marte and keep the Mets’ lead at 3-1.
Peterson balked in a run in the seventh and Urias homered on the next pitch to tie it 3-3.
Ryan Mountcastle doubled leading off the inning and took third on a ground out before plate umpire John Tumpane, with two outs, signaled for the balk before the first pitch to Urias.
The next pitch disappeared behind the fence in left-center.
