Luis Severino tossed seven innings in the latest solid start by a Mets pitcher Monday night, when New York defeated the visiting Boston Red Sox 4-1 in the opener of a three-game interleague series.

With their fifth straight win, the Mets (74-64) inched within a half-game of the idle Atlanta Braves in the race for the final National League wild-card berth. The Red Sox (70-68), who have lost three straight, entered Monday 4 1/2 games behind the Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals in the race for the final two American League wild-card berths.

Severino (10-6) gave up one run on six hits and two walks while striking out five. Severino and fellow starters David Peterson, Tylor Megill, Jose Quintana and Sean Manaea have a 1.44 ERA during the winning streak.

Danny Young issued a walk and hit a batter during a scoreless eighth before Phil Maton notched his third save with a perfect ninth.

Starling Marte hit into a run-scoring double play in the second and Brandon Nimmo put the Mets ahead for good an inning later with a run-scoring double. DJ Stewart singled and scored in the fourth when left fielder Tyler O'Neill misplayed Luis Torrens' double. Francisco Lindor followed with an RBI single to make it 4-1.

Lindor and Torrens, the Mets' leadoff and No. 9 hitters, were each 2-for-3. Lindor's third-inning single extended his hitting streak to 13 games. He has also reached safely in 31 consecutive games.

Ceddanne Rafaela tripled with one out in the third and scored the Red Sox's lone run on a single by Jarren Duran, who was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a double.

O'Neill, Triston Casas and Masataka Yoshida all reached base twice for the Red Sox.

Brayan Bello (12-7) took the loss after surrendering four runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out four over five innings.

--Field Level Media