So2o

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Juan Soto hit two home runs and Kodai Senga threw six shutout innings to give the Mets a series win over the Diamondbacks in their ballpark. 

Things started off in an all too familiar way for the Mets offense. Through three innings, they were 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position. In the second, Brandon Nimmo - who was the designated hitter - doubled to center to start the inning. But Luis Torrens grounded out, Brett Baty reached on an error that only got Nimmo to third, and Luisangel Acuña and Jeff McNeil both struck out against Merrill Kelly. In the third, Francisco Lindor doubled with one out. Juan Soto proceeded to strike out and Pete Alonso flew out to left. Kelly tossed 1-2-3 innings in the fourth and the fifth.

Kodai Senga meanwhile was uncharacteristically erratic, and it ultimately didn’t matter. He walked Corbin Carroll to start his day. But Carroll was caught stealing by the kind of amazing Luis Torrens. After Geraldo Perdomo popped up to third, Senga walked Pavin Smith, but Josh Naylor grounded out to Alonso to end that little threat. Eugenio Suaréz walked to lead off the second. After striking out Lourdes Gurriel Jr. with his ghost fork, Senga permitted a double in the left center gap by Alek Thomas. Fortunately, Suaréz was thrown out at home on a beautiful 8-6-2 putout. 

Senga walked two more batters to begin the third. Geraldo Perdomo tried to bunt the runners over a base but instead Torrens simply threw out the runner trying to get to third for the first out. Then Pavin Smith grounded into a 4-6-3 double play, which I would also say was quite pretty. After that, Senga calmed down. Like Kelly, he had 1-2-3 fourth and fifth innings. And outside of getting caught looking at a great Alonso diving play and forgetting to cover first, he had a flawless sixth inning too to finish his day.

With one out in the sixth, Merrill Kelly faced Juan Soto for a third time. Soto had him measured: he homered to right center to break the ice and give the Mets a 1-0 lead. Kelly was kept in the game for the seventh, which proved to be a mistake. Torrens doubled to center, then advanced to third on a Brett Baty ground out. Luisangel Acuña brought Torrens home with a ringing single to center. Then Jeff McNeil, who struck out in his first two plate appearances, tripled to the right center field gap to bring in Acuña to make it 3-0. That was the end of both Merrill Kelly’s day and McNeil’s: Squirrel felt a cramp in his left hamstring. 

The Mets added another run in the eighth when Juan Soto hit his second home run of the afternoon, this one a line drive oppo boppo. It was his second multi-homer game against the Diamondbacks in the past week. New York added three more runs in the ninth to put the game away. Francisco Lindor doubled in two runs, stole third, and scored on a Soto sacrifice fly. 

Max Kranick got the first two outs in the seventh, allowed back-to-back singles, then got pinch hitter Ketel Marte to ground out to second to end the threat. He stayed in for the eighth and gave up a Corbin Carroll homer on the first pitch. He permitted a Perdomo infield single but struck out Pavin Smith on a slider before he exited for The Amazing Man Huascar Brazobán, who obviously should have started the inning. Brazobán retired both batters he faced without a problem, lowering his ERA to 1.21. Ryne Stanek needed eight pitches for a 1-2-3 ninth.  

The Mets and Diamondbacks ended up splitting their season series. It was nice to not lose a second game in a row again.

I know I said I’d be mad if Nimmo was in the lineup again, but he was just the designated hitter and he looked okay, so please, do not put it in the newspaper that I’m mad.

Keith Hernandez "had the pleasure of" Lynda Carter's company and she was a "class act." Gary Cohen unfortunately did not follow up on this.

The Mets signed a left-handed pitcher named Colin Poche to a minor league deal. He was terrible with the Nationals this season - that’s why he was available. But he put up good numbers with the Rays over the last few years.

Baseball America updated their Top 100 Prospects list. The Mets had representation in three slots. Coming in at #62 was Jet(!)t Williams. Pitcher Nolan McLean was #72. Brandon Sproat the GOAT just squeaked in at #99. More on him in a sec.

Mark Vientos had his own fit check on TikTok.

Jacob Reimer was briefly interviewed on the Brooklyn Cyclones’ YouTube channel. He once again praised the Mets’ hitting lab.

Jose Iglesias, who is in town as a Padre facing the Yankees, told reporters he was “totally shocked” that the Mets didn’t bother trying to re-sign him, and he had a dream that he hit a blooper over the first baseman against the Mets in a playoff game. What I found most interesting was that he referred to Lindor as a “great” and “special” leader. The sad truth is, going into last night, Iglesias has a 63 OPS+ with a -0.2 bWAR. Luisangel Acuña has a 112 OPS+ and a 0.7 bWAR. Even Brett Baty has a higher OPS+ (70) and bWAR (0.3) despite having 31 fewer at-bats. So David Stearns, that cold-hearted robot, was right about this one. 

In 11 innings, the Triple-A Syracuse Mets edged the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (Marlins affiliate) 6-5. Luke Ritter hit his first homer of the year. Brandon Sproat had the best start of the season: 5.0 IP 2 H 1 ER 1BB 5 K. Interestingly, Felipe De La Cruz, who most recently started and pitched six shutout innings, came out of the bullpen pumping 98 and allowing zero hits in one and two thirds. The Mets desperately need left-handed bullpen help, and De La Cruz is a southpaw…really makes you think.

The Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies came back from a five-run deficit in the eighth inning to beat the Reading Fightin Phils 9-7. A walk-off William Lugo three-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the ninth won it for the Ponies. Ryan Clifford went 3 for 5 and homered as well. Zach Thornton didn’t have a fun time in his second Double-A start. He gave up four earned runs in two and two thirds innings, allowing seven hits and one walk while striking out four. 

The High-A Brooklyn Cyclones lost to the Asheville Tourists (Astros) 6-5. Marco Vargas went 2 for 5 and stole two bases in the loss. Poor Jacob Reimer was hit by a pitch twice. 

The Low-A St. Lucie Mets beat the Clearwater Threshers (Phillies) 4-1. Jeremy Rodriguez went 2 for 4 with a double and two stolen bases. Trey Snyder, Colin Houck, and Yonathan Henriquez each swiped two bags as well. Edgar Moreta went six innings, allowing just two hits and one earned run. He walked zero and struck out six. 

On this day in 1961, New York’s National League expansion team announced they will be known as the “Mets.” They chose “Mets” over the Continentals, Burros, Skyliners, Skyscrapers, Bees, Rebels, NYBs, Avengers, and Jets. Burros would have been something (I assume it was a play on “boroughs”, not spanish donkeys). Avengers would have been pretty cool. Mets was the only real choice though, come on. 

Today the coulda-been Burros have the day off to rest, look at clouds, then debate what the clouds look like.