Harrison Bader had waited patiently for his first signature moment in a Mets uniform and Sunday finally received it. The ball traveled all of 75 feet, but to Bader this swinging bunt might as well have landed in the upper deck. I thought it was going to hit the wall, Bader joked after his bases-loaded dribbler in the eighth inning broke a scorele s deadlock in the Mets 2-1 victory over the Royals at Citi Field. Hours after Dwight Goodens No. 16 , the Mets celebrated a third straight series victory. Harrison Bader singled in the game-winning run in the eighth for the Mets on Sunday. Robert Sabo for the NY Post Edwin Diaz recorded the save for the Mets on Sunday. Robert Sabo for the NY Post Explore More That the Mets won this one with a superb starting pitching performance from Jose Butto served as an additional tribute to Gooden. But lefty Cole Ragans was just as succe sful in handling the Mets, using his 100 mph heat to dominate for six innings. In the eighth, the Mets loaded the bases on walks to Pete Alonso, Jeff McNeil and Brett Baty against reliever Chris Stratton before Bader, with two outs, delivered his infield single. Brandon Nimmo drew the fourth walk in the inning to give the Mets a second run. DJ Stewart was an option to hit in Baders place in the eighth, but manager Carlos Mendoza stuck with the veteran outfielder in a big spot and was rewarded. Francisco Lindor celebrates his double Sunday against the Royals. Robert Sabo for the NY Post Jose Butto threw six shutout innings for the Mets on Sunday. Robert Sabo for the NY Post Bader, who arrived in the offseason Jabari Parker Jersey on a one-year contract worth $10.5 million, finished 2-for-4 to continue a surge that has raised his average to .302 after a sluggish start. You knew it was going to be a tough matchup for Bader because of the two-seamer from Stratton, Mendoza said. But that was a decision I had to make and we got the result. But its important because hes one of our everyday guys and at times I am going to ask a lot of them to come up in situations like this. Bader said he had difficulty seeing through the shadows and was thinking smaller in his final at-bat. That was maybe not the most conventional way of scoring an RBI, but it did get the job done, Bader said. I think we had really good at-bats and to push it acro s for my team means a lot to me. Delivering insights on all things Amazins Sign up for Inside the Mets by Mike Puma, exclusively on Sports+ Thank you By clicking above you agree to the and . Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! Edwin Diaz allowed a solo homer to Vinnie Pasquantino in the ninth. But Diaz rebounded to retire Freddy Fermin and earn his third save. In his second straight strong performance, Butto allowed only two hits with a walk and hit batter over six shutout innings. The right-hander struck out nine, using his changeup as the strikeout pitch five times. Butto struck out the side to begin the game. Dwight Goodens jersey was retired Sunday by the Mets. Robert Sabo for the NY Post Dwight Gooden threw out the first pitch before the Mets played the Royals on Sunday. Robert Sabo for the NY Post It was the first time this season a Mets pitcher faced three batters in an inning and struck out all of them. The Royals had their best chance against him in the second inning, when Butto surrendered a leadoff double to Salvador Perez and plunked Adam Frazier with two outs. Butto then retired Hunter Renfroe. Harrison Baders hit gave the Mets their first run of the game Sunday. Robert Sabo for the NY Post The Mets wasted an opportunity in the fourth, when Starling Marte was nailed at the plate to end the inning on a strong throw from M.J. Melendez after tagging up on Tyrone Taylors fly to left. Marte had singled leading off the inning and the ensuing batter, Francisco Lindor, reached on a single and advanced to second after Renfroe booted the ball in right field. Butto struck out Kyle Isbel and Maikel Garcia to begin the sixth before Bobby Witt Jr. delivered a double to give the Royals their first runner in scoring position since the second inning. Butto rebounded to retire Pasquantino. Pete Alonso scored the game-winning run for the Mets against the Royals. Robert Sabo for the NY Post The lefty Ragans allowed five hits over six shutout innings with one walk and eight strikeouts. Lindor had a shot with the bases loaded in the seventh after reliever John Schreiber walked Marte with two outs. Lindor swung at Schreibers first pitch and popped out to end the inning. But with the bases loaded in the eighth the Mets capitalized just enough. This game is all about riding energy, Bader said. And that continued level of focus on all sides of the baseball is going to allow us to be dangerous down the stretch of ballgames and obviously in the season its a good place to be. Vlade Divac Jersey