NEW YORK _ Among the many qualities that mark a good team, one stands out: Even on an imperfect night, when not at its best, a good team remains dangerous.
The Mets seem to possess that right now.
They were no-hit through three. Marcus Stroman left with an injury after four. They were in a tie game late.
Yet, in front of another impressive crowd, it always felt the Mets would find a way. They've done so at Citi Field for the past couple homestands.
Even Carlos Santana's go-ahead, 10th inning homer off Luis Avilan couldn't shake this group. Instead, it responded with a game-winning rally off Cleveland closer Brad Hand. And in it, the Mets had some magic.
The tying run scored when Michael Conforto grounded into what should have been a game-ending double play _ only no one covered first. Wilson Ramos, not known for his wheels, then hit a little dribbler into no-man's land and beat it out because it took so long for Hand to get off the mound and grab it.
J.D. Davis provided the knockout punch: A sharp liner to left, causing the ballpark to erupt. It marked his first-career walk-off hit, and capped a nine-pitch at-bat.
With a 4-3 win over Cleveland, the Mets moved to a season-high six games over .500 after being 11 games under on July 12. They have also taken a series against a contending team with a chance to sweep on Thursday.
On Wednesday, Juan Lagares and pinch-hitter Luis Guillorme smoked back-to-back RBI doubles to give the Mets a lead in the fifth inning. Just like you drew it up.
Jose Ramirez smacked a run-scoring triple in the top of the sixth, but the Mets bullpen limited the damage. Jeurys Familia, Brad Brach (who allowed the run) and Justin Wilson got New York to the eighth, where the Mets could use their best because of a lopsided victory a night ago.
The Mets summoned Seth Lugo in a tie game in the eighth. He threw a clean frame, and then they put him back out there for the ninth. He allowed a hit and that runner eventually advanced to third, but Lugo stranded him there.
The Mets, who seem to love the dramatic, put the winning run on base with two outs in the ninth. However, pinch-hitter Aaron Altherr flew out right after.
But an inning later, Amed Rosario lined a leadoff double to begin the rally that made the latest, great Mets moment in a season that is getting more and more of them.
The Indians hit Stroman hard, but something seemed amiss when he did not jog out to the mound for the fifth inning.
Turns out, something was.
The Mets soon announced that Stroman felt left hamstring tightness. He allowed a run over four innings, while throwing 62 pitches.
They club will await further information on Stroman. The loss, obviously, would be huge for a team already without Jeff McNeil, Robinson Cano, Brandon Nimmo and Robert Gsellman. The starting rotation's health of late has perhaps been the Mets' greatest ally recently.
Yet the Mets pressed on, needing each victory possible as they approach September. They are only in the first leg of a crucial, three-team homestand, but they perhaps could not have asked for a better start.
Unlike Tuesday, the Mets did not hammer Cleveland. But in a way, this victory might be just as impressive.
