JONATHAN VILLAR

The New York Mets and All-Star infielder Eduardo Escobar have agreed to a free agent contract, according to a person familiar with the deal.

With a possible lockout on the horizon, it’s been mostly business as usual on the free agent market — so far.

Marlins Mets Baseball New York Mets' Jonathan Villar celebrates a home run in front of Miami Marlins catcher Jorge Alfaro during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, in New York. Statisticians at Elias were unable to go back any further with certainty because prior pitch-count records aren't precise. It was Rojas’ third leadoff home run this season and eighth overall. It was Villar’s eighth career leadoff shot and first this year. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Miami Marlins leadoff batter Miguel Rojas and New York Mets counterpart Jonathan Villar each homered on the first pitch they saw Thursday night, the first time that’s happened in a major league game since at least 1985, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Nationals Mets Baseball New York Mets' Javier Baez watches his two-run home run, also scoring Michael Conforto, during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Sunday, Aug. 29, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin) (Corey Sipkin)NEW YORK — (AP) — Javier Báez and his New York Mets teammates turned the boos at Citi Field to cheers this weekend — and then turned their thumbs upside down at fans. Later, he said Mets players have been flashing the thumbs-down gesture after hits as a response to fans who have jeered the club during a rough August. Báez, his good friend Francisco Lindor and Kevin Pillar all were seen flashing the thumbs-down sign after hits Sunday. “I love the fans and I like playing for the fans,” Báez said.

Javier Báez and his New York Mets teammates turned the boos at Citi Field to cheers this weekend — and turned their thumbs upside down at frustrated fans.

Kevin Pillar hit a three-run home run in the 12th inning, lifting the New York Mets over the San Francisco Giants 6-2 hours after the team’s owner called out its hitters for a lack of production.

Brad Miller homered twice and the first-place Philadelphia Phillies withstood a ninth-inning rally for their seventh straight victory, 5-3 over the sinking New York Mets.

Bryce Harper homered, Kyle Gibson pitched six strong innings and drove in the go-ahead run, and the streaking Philadelphia Phillies won their sixth straight game to take over first place in the NL East with a 4-2 victory over the slumping New York Mets.

Jeff McNeil laced his second go-ahead hit in two days Monday night, when his RBI double in the fifth inning sent the New York Mets to a 1-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves and a doubleheader split.

The San Diego Padres and Washington will resume their game after it was suspended because of a shooting outside Nationals Park.

Gio Urshela hit a three-run homer and the New York Yankees saved a little face by beating the Mets 4-2 to avoid a Subway Series sweep.

Taijuan Walker took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, Brandon Nimmo provided a spark in his return from the injured list and the New York Mets beat the crosstown Yankees 8-3 to open a three-game Subway Series.

Bryce Harper blew kisses at a booing crowd to punctuate his home run, and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the New York Mets 2-1 in eight innings for a doubleheader split after Aaron Nola matched a long-standing major league record with 10 straight strikeouts in the opener.

Jacob deGrom was pulled from a second straight start with an arm injury, this time leaving after three perfect innings with right shoulder soreness, but the New York Mets bullpen stepped up to finish a three-hitter in a 6-3 win over the Chicago Cubs.

Jacob deGrom kept up his dominance of major league hitters, striking out 11 over seven innings and pitching the New York Mets past the high-powered San Diego Padres 4-0.

APTOPIX Mets Braves Baseball New York Mets right fielder Khalil Lee makes a diving catch on a line drive from Atlanta Braves' Ozzie Albies during the sixth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 18, 2021, in Atlanta. Villar hit a two-run shot in the third inning, and Nido won it for the Mets in the ninth with a tiebreaking drive into the left-field seats off struggling Braves closer Will Smith. Pillar is likely to be out for an extended period, but the injury-plagued Mets carried on just fine without him. Marcell Ozuna tied it for the Braves with a two-out, broken-bat single in the eighth off Jeurys Familia (2-0). But Nido pulled it out for the Mets with his second homer of the season off Smith (0-4), who had another poor outing.

Inspired by Kevin Pillar's return to the dugout, the New York Mets got homers from Jonathan Villar and Tomás Nido and strong performances by a string of relievers to beat the Atlanta Braves 4-3.

Mets ace Jacob deGrom was pulled after five innings with right side tightness in his return from an injury to a similar area, but the bullpen closed out a four-hitter as New York beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-2 for its fifth straight win.

Taijuan Walker allowed one hit in seven innings, the Mets scored three runs on bases-loaded walks and beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-1 on Thursday.

Mets Phillies Baseball New York Mets' Jonathan Villar, from left, Michael Conforto, Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil celebrate after a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Sunday, May 2, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) (Matt Slocum)PHILADELPHIA — (AP) — Pete Alonso capped New York's six-run eighth inning with a three-run double, and the Mets used a defensive meltdown by Philadelphia and a replay reversal to beat the Phillies 8-7 on Sunday night. A replay review showed the ball hit the top railing of the fence on the out-of-town scoreboard in right, never clearing the wall itself. Didi Gregorius and Andrew McCutchen homered for Philadelphia, and Hoskins had two hits and two RBIs. After Gregorius' three-run shot lifted the Phillies to a 4-2 lead in the sixth, the Mets went ahead to stay in the eighth.

Pete Alonso capped New York’s six-run eighth inning with a three-run double, and the Mets used a defensive meltdown by Philadelphia and a replay reversal to beat the Phillies 8-7.

Jacob deGrom struck out nine straight batters against Colorado, falling one shy of matching Tom Seaver’s major league record.

New York starter Jordan Montgomery gave up two hits in three scoreless innings. Brubaker allowed two hits over two scoreless innings and Chase De Jong followed with two shutout innings. MARLINS 4, METS 4Miami starter Pablo Lopez gave up a hit and a walk over three scoreless innings. German Marquez scattered three hits and a walk over three scoreless innings for Colorado. Kansas City starter Jakob Junis pitched three innings and gave up one hit, a leadoff homer to Trent Grisham.

I look forward to getting back to work in the next several days.”LESTER SURGERYWashington Nationals left-hander Jon Lester is leaving spring training camp to have surgery for the removal of his thyroid gland. He underwent chemotherapy treatments and returned to the Red Sox at spring training before the following season. Soto’s spring training start was delayed because he fouled a ball off his right foot in live batting practice Sunday. Martinez had two hits for a second straight game, driving in his first two runs of spring training. Jarred Kelenic, Seattle’s top prospect, hit a two-run homer and Taylor Trammell hit a solo homer.

Toronto Blue Jays' Jacob Waguespack reacts as New York Yankees' Kyle Higashioka runs the bases after hitting a home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)NEW YORK – Kyle Higashioka hit a career-high three home runs, DJ LeMahieu connected twice and the resurgent New York Yankees hit a season-best seven homers in another Bronx air show, thumping the Toronto Blue Jays 13-2 on Wednesday night. LeMahieu, Voit and Frazier also connected Tuesday — Voit homered twice — when New York hit six home runs and pummeled Toronto 20-6. Gerrit Cole (6-3) had another overpowering start for New York, carrying a no-hitter into the sixth. Higashioka had never topped three homers in a season but has four in the past six days while emerging as Cole's preferred batterymate.

(AP Photo/John Minchillo)NEW YORK Miguel Rojas two-run single capped a three-run second inning and four pitchers combined on an eight-hitter to lead the Miami Marlins past the New York Mets 4-0 on Tuesday night in the first game of a doubleheader. It was the Mets first game since a player and a coach tested positive for the coronavirus. The Marlins scored all their runs against Rick Porcello (1-4) with a pair of two-out rallies. The Mets didnt pitch deGrom Tuesday because he didnt get his usual between starts mound work in until Monday. Marlins: Elieser Hernandez (1-0, 2.29 ERA) is looking to win back-to-back starts for the first time as a big leaguer.

Miami Marlins players Lewis Brinson (25) Magneuris Sierra, center, and Jon Berti celebrate after the Marlins beat the Atlanta Braves 8-2 in a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)MIAMI Jesus Aguilar drove in three runs, Jon Berti stole home and the NL East-leading Miami Marlins won their long-awaited, coronavirus-delayed home opener, beating the Atlanta Braves 8-2 Friday night. Miami returned to Marlins Park following a 23-day road trip, interrupted when 18 players and two coaches tested positive for the virus. The Braves will be without All-Star center fielder Ronald Acua Jr. in the series while he recovers from a sore left wrist. Marlins: LHP Daniel Castano (0-1, 8.31) will make his second major league start Saturday.

Miami Marlins' Francisco Cervelli celebrates with teammates after hitting a three-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Friday, Aug. 7, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)NEW YORK Francisco Cervelli hit a three-run homer, Humberto Mejia impressed in his abbreviated major league debut and the Miami Marlins kept up their surprising surge, beating the New York Mets 4-3 Friday night. The Marlins won their sixth in a row and improved to 7-1 theyre 5-0 since missing more than a week because of the teams coronavirus outbreak. Miami has won despite already using 43 players, including 25 pitchers, to maintain a full roster amid COVID-19 concerns. ROSTER MOVESThe Marlins moved RHP Jorge Guzman to their taxi squad after he made his major league debut Thursday.

Miami Marlins' Francisco Cervelli (29) greets Jesus Aguilar, back, after they both scored on a Brian Anderson single during the third inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

(AP Photo/Nick Wass)BALTIMORE Jonathan Villar hit a first-pitch leadoff homer to spark a robust offensive performance by the Miami Marlins, who beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-7 Thursday night to complete a startling four-game sweep and make Don Mattingly the winningest manager in franchise history. In their first three wins in the series, Miami relied on exceptional pitching in victories by scores of 4-0, 1-0 and 2-1. NO STARCHKintzler found an alternate use for the ironing board in his hotel room while being quarantined in Philadelphia. I needed to figure out how I could simulate a workout, so I got the ironing board out and started taking the tops off the coffee tables," Kintzler revealed Thursday. They were heavy stones, so I would add them to the ironing board and carry it around like a front rack.