WASHINGTON — The Mets didn’t sign Jason Bay to a $66 million contract because he was a triples hitter, but after yesterday’s three-bagger, Bay now has as many of them this season — six — as home runs.
“If triples could be homers,” Bay said with a laugh after the Mets beat the Nationals 9-5 at Nationals Park.
Bay was fairly disappointing through the first half of his first season in his new uniform, but in the season’s 82nd game he had one of his most productive outings.
Bay started off with a two-out triple in the first that knocked in Alex Cora and Ike Davis and followed that with a two-out single in the fourth that drove in another two runs.
“The one in the first inning set the tone and then he came back around with the second one,” manager Jerry Manuel said. “That was big for him. We need that from that part of the lineup.”
Bay also struck out three times. A year ago at this time, he had 20 home runs and 71 RBIs for the Red Sox. Now he’s at six and 41.
“As long as you keep hitting doubles, singles and drive in runs, you don’t have to hit 30 homers to knock in 90 or 100,” Jeff Francoeur said. “I’ve driven in 100 runs with 29 homers and with 19. It’s just getting the right hits at the right time.”
Bay clearly did that yesterday.
“To come through in a win feels good,” said Bay, who is tied for the team lead in triples with Jose Reyes. “The other day I hit two homers and we lost the game.”
That was last Monday in San Juan against the Marlins. Yesterday it worked out better in a game the Mets needed after coughing one up on Saturday.
Now, Bay would like to head into the All-Star break on a high note and he gets six games at Citi Field to do it.
dan.martin@nypost.com
