Mark Vientos’ ‘work behind the scenes’ pays off with two-homer day to snap his Mets slump

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Mark Vientos doubled to start a rally in the Mets loss Saturday.

A day later, he became a one-man rally for the team.

“I think the work behind the scenes is for sure showing these past two days,” Vientos said after smashing a pair of two-run homers in the Mets’ 5-1 victory over the Angels on Sunday. “I have been seeing the ball great all season. I think I have been just missing stuff, and I didn’t miss those two pitches today.”

Vientos’ homer in the fourth following Carson Benge’s walk gave the Mets a 2-1 lead.

In the eighth, Benge doubled in a run before Vientos again went deep.

Mark Vientos connects on a home run during the Mets’ May 3 win. AP

The outburst was welcomed by a slumping player and team.

Vientos entered the day with a .650 OPS and had not homered since April 18.

He’s become a regular in the lineup due to the Mets’ mounting casualties.

“We have seen that,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “We haven’t seen that in a while, but when [Vientos] gets hot, he can carry a team. That’s the power and the hitting that he’s capable of, and I am glad he came through for us today.”

The start time of Monday’s game in Colorado has been moved up three hours to 5:40 p.m. ET due to weather concerns.

Mendoza indicated the plan is to utilize David Peterson in a relief role behind an opener Monday against the Rockies.

The lefty Peterson returned from the bullpen to a starter’s role last Wednesday and struggled against the Nationals, allowing seven earned runs over 3 ²/₃ innings.

Peterson did not pitch during the Rockies’ three-game sweep of the Mets just over a week ago.

Infielder Eric Wagaman was designated for assignment to create space on the 40-man roster for Vidal Bruján.