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.