MLB

Mets’ Wright has big game and passes Giants’ Sandoval in All-Star voting

PHILADELPHIA — David Wright finished within a single of hitting for the cycle yesterday, but still had a special afternoon.

With his homer, triple and two doubles, Wright became the first Met to record four extra-base hits in a game since Edgardo Alfonzo on Aug. 30, 1999.

It continued a torrid stretch for Wright, who smacked two homers on Thursday in Atlanta and is batting .405 over his last 17 games.

Wright said it’s no coincidence he is producing at a high level, given that Marlon Byrd has emerged as a factor in the lineup, hitting behind him.

“You want a lineup that protects each other, so it’s huge to have Marlon swinging the bat the way he is behind me,” Wright said after the Mets beat the Phillies 8-0. “I’m seeing better pitches to hit, no question.”

Wright also has taken an approximately 129,000-vote lead on the Giants’ Pablo Sandoval in fan balloting to start at third base for the National League in the All-Star Game July 16 at Citi Field. In the latest tally announced last night by Major League Baseball, Wright has 2,917,819 votes to Sandoval’s 2,788,988. Voting ends July 4.

Manager Terry Collins plans to give Wright a day off this week, but that might be difficult given the third baseman’s recent tear.

“He’s tired, he’s beat up a little bit and yet he rises when you need him,” Collins said. “He’s going to get [a day off] this week, but he never asks for one.”

* Collins hinted that Ike Davis might return to the major leagues once the Mets finish this stretch of games against left-handed pitching. The White Sox are scheduled to pitch lefties Chris Sale and John Danks the next two games.

“Ike can get a few more at-bats [at Triple-A] and keep it going a little bit,” Collins said. “You stick him in Tuesday’s game against [Chris] Sale, he’s real tough against lefties. That might put him back in a funk.”

Davis is batting .310 with four homers and eight RBIs in 12 games for Las Vegas.

Team brass had discussed the possibility of promoting Davis for yesterday’s game, with Lucas Duda placed on the disabled list, but recalled Zach Lutz instead.

* With his three hits yesterday, Eric Young Jr. is 8-for-20 (.400) in five games for the Mets.

“He has been a shot in the arm for us,” Wright said. “It’s unfair to expect him to keep up at this pace, but he’s been great in the outfield, he’s set the table and provided some thump. I think sometimes pitchers might worry about him on the base paths and might leave one over the plate for you.”

* Though the Mets have lost Duda, Jon Niese and Justin Turner to the DL in recent days, Collins isn’t about to wallow in misery about the situation.

“I feel bad for Wally, losing half his club,” Collins said, referring to Triple-A manager Wally Backman.