MLB

Mets’ Wright on right track

David Wright is inching closer to a return. After running the bases for the first time on Wednesday, manager Terry Collins said the third baseman, who’s dealing with a hamstring injury, did more agility work in the infield on Friday and should step up his intensity on the bases next.

“He did more side-to-side stuff on the infield, more of having to come in on a slower-hit all to test the body control stuff,’’ Collins said before the Mets’ 4-3 win over the Nationals Friday night at Citi Field. “It looks great. We’re going to advance the effort tomorrow on the bases.’’

Wright, who has said he will play this year, has been on the disabled list since Aug. 3 with a hamstring injury. He took part in baserunning drills on Wednesday, and could conceivably return at some point next week.

“I don’t think the clock is going to run out,” Wright said Monday. “I think I’ll be back at least for a large chunk of the remainder of the games. That’s … the goal, and I haven’t really even thought about not playing those.”

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Jon Niese improved to 4-2 with a 3.36 ERA in 10 starts since coming off the DL.

“It feels good, knock on wood,’’ Niese said. “The goal is to stay healthy the rest of this season and go into spring training strong.’’

Utility man Justin Turner isn’t expected to play this weekend vs. Miami, according to Collins. Turner strained his right hamstring Tuesday vs. Washington.

“When he hurt it, it was going to be seven-to-10 days. We’re still in that seven-day period. Is he feeling better? Probably. [It’s] still going to be a few more days before he starts doing anything,’’ Collins said.

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LaTroy Hawkins pitched a perfect ninth for his ninth save, his most since 2009. He has thrown seven straight scoreless innings and is scoreless in 18 of his last 20.

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Savannah beat Hagerstown Friday night to win the best-of-five South Atlantic League championship series.

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Miami RF Giancarlo Stanton, the Mets’ reported No. 1 trade target this offseason, hit two homers. He has four homers and a .409 average in his last five games at Citi Field.

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Mets prospect Brad Marquez, who also plays wide receiver for Texas Tech, caught a 19-yard touchdown with 3:48 left Thursday night to help the Red Raiders to a 20-10 upset of No. 24 TCU.

Marquez was a 16th-round pick in 2011, and hit .250 in 27 games for rookie-level Kingsport.