Zac Thornton shows resolve in latest Mets gem: Who he is

Zac Thornton’s scoreless stretch is over. But the rookie’s latest solid outing has kept multiple streaks in play.  Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets.With his fourth straight start of at least six innings, Thornton earned his second career (and consecutive) win, leading the Mets to a 14-3 victory over the Braves at Citi Field for the team’s first back-to-back wins since July 8-9. Thornton (2-1, 2.43 ERA) entered his fifth career start having thrown 18 straight scoreless innings — the longest such stretch by a Mets rookie since 2016 (Steven Matz) — but the southpaw allowed a run before his first inning was done.

Still, the 24-year-old exited to a standing ovation in the rain. Thornton (2-1, 2.43 ERA) allowed three runs, six hits and one walk in 6 ¹/₃ innings, with five strikeouts on 81 pitches (54 strikes). “That’s who he is,” Mets interim manager Andy Green said.“The guy’s young, but he [doesn’t] allow [anything] to affect his next pitch, which is not an easy thing to do as a rookie on a big league mound for the first time.” Entering the night, opponents were hitting .175 against Thornton.

But the lefty surrendered three hits before he recorded three outs, seeing his shutout streak end at 18 ²/₃ innings after Ozzie Albies’ run-scoring infield single.The rookie allowed just three more hits over the next 5 ¹/₃ innings, including a game-tying homer to Albies in the fourth inning. “I left a few pitches [in the] middle, and I gotta get back to what I do well, living on the edges,” Thornton said.

“I’m a competitor.[I think] I’m gonna go out and beat whoever is on the other side of that field.” Green took away one of the only remaining reasons to come to Citi Field, giving Carson Benge the day off.

Over the final two months of the season, Green said he will attempt to walk a fine line with Benge and fellow standout...