Mets rookies starting to make big impact — and are having fun

Francisco Lindor’s single drove in the winning run for the Mets in the 10th inning on Friday night and Pete Alonso’s grand slam gave them life in the seventh, but once again, it was the rookies who played a key role in another good night for a rejuvenated lineup in a 10-9, 10-inning win over the Guardians at Citi Field.

Francisco Alvarez hit a solo home run to get the Mets on the board in the fifth inning, Brett Baty hit a leadoff homer in the sixth and Mark Vientos and Alvarez had a pair of RBI singles in the bottom of the 10th against Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase.

“Seeing these kids come up and help is awesome,” Alonso said after the Mets’ third straight win that got them back to .500, at 23-23.

Alvarez, Baty and Vientos all began the season at Triple-A Syracuse and are making a case to stick around the majors.

“They’re playing phenomenal right now,’’ Alonso said. “They fit right in. There’s no learning curve for these kids because they’re ready. They’re professional.”

They faced a stiff test Friday, especially after the Mets fell into an early 5-0 hole.

Then in the top of the 10th, Cleveland took a 9-7 lead on a two-run homer by Gabriel Arias off Drew Smith.

Against the hard-throwing Clase — who had given up multiple runs in two of his previous three outings — Vientos delivered a single to center with one out that scored Baty, the automatic runner, from third to bring the Mets within a run.

After pinch-hitter Daniel Vogelbach whiffed for the second out, Alvarez, whose three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth on Wednesday had sparked another comeback win, singled to left on an 0-2 pitch to drive in pinch runner Eduardo Escobar and tie the score.

“My confidence has really gone to another level,’’ Alvarez said through an interpreter. “I feel like the game has slowed down a little bit more too as well, but it’s really just been going to the plate with a plan and trying to execute that plan.”

Brandon Nimmo followed with an infield single to extend the inning for Lindor, who won it against his old team.

“These guys are like my brothers,’’ Alvarez said of Baty and Vientos. “They’re my family. We’ve been together for a long time and just having them around brings me a lot of joy. I hope that I can be around them for the rest of my career, so we all could be together.”

They’re off to a promising start and have shown a penchant for dramatic moments.

“I have a friend that says, ‘The team that wins is the team that has fun,’ ” Alvarez said. “So hopefully we can continue having a little bit more fun.”

The last three nights have been the best Citi Field has seen this season, as the Mets have had three straight one-run wins, including a pair of walk-off victories.

The streak hasn’t just evened their record, it also seemingly has altered the mood of the team that was finding ways to lose for much of the season.

Alvarez has proven to be able to catch regularly and Baty has already moved into the middle of the lineup. Vientos, as the Mets have acknowledged, doesn’t have an ideal fit defensively on the roster, but they’ll find room for him if he hits.

And Ronny Mauricio is another option at Syracuse if the Mets decide they need to add another bat.

— Additional reporting by Mike Puma