Mets stymied by ex-teammate Freddy Peralta in loss to first-place Rays

ST.PETERSBURG, Fla.

— Words that haven’t been uttered much all season: This was Freddy Peralta’s night.Of course, the right-hander didn’t get to pitch against the Mets when he belonged to the Mets, and maybe that was a factor on Tuesday, but Peralta’s results were impressive regardless.Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets.

Francisco Lindor managed a big swing against his former teammate leading off the game, and the Mets could have essentially shown themselves to the exit from there in a 6-2 loss to the Rays at Tropicana Field.Too often, he was four- or five-inning Freddy with the Mets — who traded Peralta to the Rays for three prospects on Aug.3 — but on this night Peralta lasted through the sixth, exiting after throwing only 74 pitches in a remarkably economical start.

He allowed one earned run on three hits with seven strikeouts (his highest total since May 23). Coupled with the six scoreless innings the Rays received from Peralta against the Tigers in his previous outing, it might be fair to suggest the veteran pitcher is fixed.

He’s pitched to a 3.03 ERA in his last five starts, following a clunker in his Rays debut.Peralta was the Mets’ offseason pitching prize after arriving in a trade from Milwaukee, but he pitched to a 4.99 ERA during his Queens tenure.Sean Manaea had a fourth straight uninspiring start, following his midseason resurgence.

The left-hander surrendered five earned runs on 11 hits and one walk over 5 2/3 innings and is again leaving the Mets to wonder if he’s part of next year’s equation. Manaea, over those four starts, has pitched to a 7.23 ERA and allowed 30 hits in 23 2/3 innings. Lindor greeted Peralta with a blast to right field leading off the game.

The homer was Lindor’s 15th this season.The Mets put further pressure on Peralta with singles by Bo Bichette and Carson Benge, but the right-hander escaped fur...