Former Giants second baseman Joe Panik joins Mets

NEW YORK — The Mets on Friday signed second baseman Joe Panik — who was released earlier this week by the Giants — in a homecoming for the New York native. Panik was signed before the Mets series opener against the Washington Nationals. Born about 20 miles north of Citi Field in Yonkers, Panik lived in suburban Dutchess County and attended John Jay High in the hamlet of Hopewell Junction. He played college baseball for St. John's, not far from his new team's Queens stadium. "It couldn't have worked out any better for myself, personally, a lot of family, a lot of friends in the area," Panik said. "For me to be coming to a club that's hot right now … It's very exciting. For me, it's a great situation." On Friday, Panik batted eighth and went 1-for-4 as the Mets continued their hot streak with a 7-6 win. New York is in the thick of a crowded fight for a wild-card spot. Panik actually played at Citi Field before the big-league club took the field for the first time. "Yeah, actually, back in 2009 when Citi Field first opened I was a freshman at St. John's and the first game, before the Mets opened up, St. John's, we played Georgetown," Panik recalled. "That was...