BOSTON _ The best team in baseball brought the best in Noah Syndergaard.
Syndergaard looked every bit the part of an ace Friday night by silencing the 101-win Red Sox in an 8-0 win at Fenway Park. Syndergaard (12-3) threw seven scoreless innings while allowing just three hits, and Jay Bruce drove in four runs.
The Mets (69-78) have won four straight games.
While Syndergaard's 3.26 ERA is pretty good, the righty has not performed up to his standards this season. He's produced few dominant starts, and even recently described his season as disappointing after a subpar start against the Cubs.
Syndergaard knows he has the stuff to be one of the elite pitchers in baseball, but it's a matter of showing it on a consistent basis. Only two seasons ago, Syndergaard tamed opponents on a regular basis and was mentioned in the Cy Young conversation.
Shutting down the juggernaut Red Sox certainly qualifies as an ace-like showing, and perhaps can propel him to a strong finish.
Syndergaard allowed few hard-hit balls, and did not allow the Red Sox to apply pressure. The one time they did, he escaped the jam.
After the first two reached in the third in a 4-0 game, Syndergaard stranded them by retiring MVP candidate Mookie Betts and young stud outfielder Andrew Benitendi. Syndergaard just beat Benitendi to the bag on a grounder to get the last out.
Those at-bats were the only ones the Red Sox registered with runners in scoring position against Syndergaard, who struck out six and walked three batters.
He has now produced two dominant starts in his last three outings having previously thrown a complete game against the Giants in a 4-1 win in San Francisco on Sept. 2.
Syndergaard also picked off a runner Friday night, a noteworthy accomplishment since he has struggled to contain opposing running games during his career. He caught veteran Ian Kinsler flat footed in the seventh inning to record the second out.
The Red Sox still managed three steals against Syndergaard, who has allowed 31 steals in 34 attempts this season.
Syndergaard has now won four straight decisions.
As Syndergaard tamed the mighty Red Sox offense, the Mets batters took their place by battering several Red Sox pitchers who likely won't make their postseason roster.
Bruce led the charge before others started hitting balls over the Green Monster.
The right fielder ripped a two-out RBI double to right off spot starter William Cuevas in the first inning to give the Mets a 1-0 advantage. Boston's original starter, Hector Velazquez, was scratched prior to the game due to illness.
In the third, Bruce hit a three-run homer to right to make it a 4-0 game.
Bruce has played well since returning from the disabled list, and has resembled the hitter he has been throughout his career. Bruce struggled prior to landing on the disabled list with a hip strain, and it appears the injury played a large role in his struggles.
The Mets need Bruce to be healthy and productive in 2019 since he is one their highest-paid players and could be manning first base a decent amount.
Hot-hitting second baseman Jeff McNeil's solo shot to right in the fourth gave the Mets a 5-0 lead, and Austin Jackson and Amed Rosario homered in the eighth. Jackson and Rosario both hit homers over the Green Monster off righty Tyler Thornburg.
Rosario and McNeil have proved to be a solid duo at the top of the Mets lineup, and their success is reason for optimism heading into the offseason.
With the Mets turning the game into a rout, Boston emptied its bench late in the game, a move other teams haven't forced the Red Sox to do that often this year.
