The primary few heat days of the yr are all the time trigger for celebration in New York Metropolis. The Mets celebrated extra than simply their mascot’s birthday Saturday afternoon at Citi Area.
With temperatures within the low 80s, a sellout crowd of 42,339 packed Citi Area to see the NL East-best Mets defeat the St. Louis Cardinals, 3-0.
If Saturday was a preview of what summer time will seem like in Flushing, then Mets followers are in for a sizzling one. Whereas the Mets (14-7) didn’t precisely scorch the Playing cards, they did what they wanted to do to win their third straight and take the collection. They performed glorious protection, their stars contributed and the bullpen continued to lock issues down.
A two-run lead felt bigger, even when right-handed ace Kodai Senga put two on in his remaining inning. Pete Alonso made it 3-0 together with his sixth house run of the yr within the backside of the eighth, smashing a 2-2 slider from John King 443 ft to the second deck in left discipline.
The Polar Bear circled the bases as followers chanted “MVP.”
The sport was the focus of what felt like a celebration at Citi Area. There have been tailgates across the stadium earlier than the sport and the environment felt vigorous all through all 9 innings. And to suppose, earlier than the season even began the Mets have been dealing with questions on how they’d recapture the magic of the 2024 season. After all, it’s nonetheless early sufficient within the season that the Mets may return to being, effectively, the Mets, however for now, they’re rolling and their followers are having fun with the trip.
Coming off six shutout innings in opposition to the Philadelphia Phillies his final outing, St. Louis left-hander Matthew Libertore was exceptionally powerful, however Alonso and Juan Soto mixed for a two-out rally within the backside of the third.
Luisangel Acuña led off with a double to middle discipline. Soto hit a line drive single to middle to attain him, and Alonso adopted with an RBI double. Alonso’s 23 RBI are the second-most within the league, only one behind Aaron Choose for the lead.
Libertore (1-2) recovered effectively, putting out the facet within the fourth and retiring it so as within the fifth. He pitched into the seventh inning, being changed by right-hander King with two outs and Jose Azocar on first. King obtained the ultimate out, retaining Libertore’s line at two runs on six hits, with one stroll and 6 strikeouts.
Senga (3-1) blanked the Playing cards over 5 2/3 innings. He had site visitors, giving up two hits, strolling two and hitting one, however he was aided by a dynamic protection behind him.
Earlier than third baseman Mark Vientos left the sport with groin discomfort he snared a tough line drive by Brendan Donovan for the primary out within the fourth, leaping about two ft within the air to make the catch. Within the fifth, with a runner on third and one out, catcher Yohel Pozo hit a floor ball to Brett Baty at third, who changed Vientos. Baty fired house, making a implausible throw proper down the road to catcher Luis Torrens, who laid the tag down on Thomas Saggese with loads of time.
With two on and none out within the sixth, Donovan hit right into a 4-6-3 double play. Senga then hit Nolan Arenado with a pitch. It was the final one he threw. Proper-hander Reed Garrett got here in and obtained the ultimate out.
Garrett pitched a 1-2-3 seventh. A.J. Minter bent, however didn’t break within the high of the eighth, loading the bases with two outs earlier than getting out of the jam, establishing a save for nearer Edwin Diaz.
The group was on its ft for the trumpets. Diaz didn’t disappoint, making fast work of the Playing cards (9-12) for his fifth save in as many tries.
Oh yeah, to not point out, it was Mr. Met’s birthday. A becoming celebration, all issues thought-about.
