Hard work pays off for Wright with game-winning hit

NEW YORK — For David Wright, these are the nights that make all the struggles worth it as he laced the game-winning single in a come-from-behind 4-3 victory over the Reds on Tuesday at Citi Field.

And believe him, he’s struggling to play through chronic spinal stenosis in his lower back and each day is a pain, both literally and figuratively.

“Every day it stinks, every day it stinks getting ready for the game, but I enjoy playing the game,” said the Mets captain and third baseman afterward. “So it’s worth it. It’s no fun doing the preparation for the preparation. But if I want to play and give myself the best chance to be healthy, you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.”

There is no angst in his voice as he says this. In fact, Wright speaks about playing through the pain, the stiffness, the tightness — exacerbated by the chilly weather — with a smile on his face.

A year ago, it was just about this time when he embarked on four months of diagnosis and rehab, returning just in time for the Mets’ run to the World Series. There was some euphoria in that. Now, it’s just the daily grind.

Wright came into the game with three hits and two RBIs in his last 25 at-bats. The slump went to 3-for-28 before he came up to hit with two outs in the seventh and Curtis Granderson on third. Three runs were already in by virtue of Yoenis Cespedes’ dramatic three-run pinch-hit homer, which tied the score, 3-3.

Granderson tripled. Asdrubal Cabrera struck out. And that left Wright facing left-hander Tony Cingrani trying to get the job done and he did. Addison Reed pitched in …

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