Excellent base running by Juan Soto saw the Mets salvage the weekend series against the Reds by a score of 3-2.
The Mets and Reds sent out a pair of 2025 All-Star left handed pitchers, as David Peterson toed the rubber against Andrew Abbott. Despite not getting the win, and also surrendering the first run of the game, Peterson was a hair bit better than Abbott on the day.
The Reds got to Peterson in the first inning, taking advantage of a surprise start at first base for Mark Vientos, as Pete Alonso had a hand contusion that prevented him from starting. TJ Friedl got on by way of a Luisangel Acuña throwing error, but Vientos really could have done a better job of bailing out his second baseman — it was not a good throw, but it was a make-able play. Back to back singles by Matt McLain and Elly De La Cruz saw Friedl score, giving Peterson an unearned run on his ledger.
That 1-0 deficit for the Mets held through the rest of the first and the second inning, but the Mets were able to finally answer the bell in the third. Tyrone Taylor eked out an infield single, Acuña bunted him over to second, and Brandon Nimmo hit a ground ball into right field to tie the game at one apiece.
After both All-Stars threw 1-2-3 innings in the fourth, the Mets took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the fifth. Baty started the frame with a single, and stole second with one out in the inning. Acuña, who really did have his fingerprints all over the first half in the game for both good and bad reasons, drove him home with a 108 mph double over the left fielder’s head, giving the Mets a slim 2-1 lead.
Peterson pitched a perfect sixth, and handed the ball to his bullpen with final line of: six innings pitched, four hits, one unearned run, one walk, and four strikeouts. The Mets needed him to be their stopper, and he stepped up to the plate (or stepped up to the rubber? That’s not a saying BUT…) as he has done all season.
Huascar Brazobán came in for the seventh and worked around a Noelvi Marte single with a strikeout, a fly out, and a caught stealing of Marte. Reed Garrett came in for the eighth, swiftly got the first two outs of the frame, and was pulled in a rather aggressive move for closer Edwin Díaz after walking McLain. Díaz, unfortunately, did not have it on the day.
McLain stole second base, De La Cruz walked, and Austin Hays beat out an infield single that was closer to an error by Francisco Lindor (who is REALLY going through it right now, as he is roughly 0 for his last 1000 at the plate). Lindor played the ball on his backhand and let it come to him rather passively, and Hays simply just beat out the throw, loading the bases. Spencer Steer was hit by a pitch to tie the game at two, and the vibes began to quickly deteriorate. Luckily, Díaz found his stuff, striking out Tyler Stephenson to keep the game tied.
The eighth inning was the inning of Juan Soto, with assists by Jeff McNeil and Luis Torrens. Soto worked a walk, a likely thing for him to do, to start the frame. Pete Alonso, who for maybe the only time in his life, came in for defense in the seventh, got his first and only at bat of the game and promptly struck out without much fanfare. McNeil doubled to right and Soto made a good read on the ball to go first to third, which helped get McNeil his double in the first place. Torrens came up with runners on second and third with one away, and the Reds naturally brought their infield in. Torrens hit a rocket to McLain at second base, forcing him to his right. Soto, to his credit, made his second good read of the inning, breaking for home and beating out the off balance throw to put the Mets ahead 3-2. Baty and Taylor could not give them insurance runs, but the important go-ahead run did get across.
Ryne Stanek came in for the save and was shaky at best. The first out was a warning track fly out, Jake Fraley singled and Gavin Lux beat out a would-be double play ball to continue the game. Friedl popped out to second to end the game, and put the Mets back in the win column.
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Big Mets winner: David Peterson, +22.5% WPA
Big Mets loser: Edwin Diaz, -21.8% WPA
Mets pitchers: +31.0% WPA
Mets hitters: +19.0% WPA
Teh aw3s0mest play: Jeff McNeil’s double in the eighth, +17.3% WPA
Teh sux0rest play: Spencer Steer’s RBI hit by pitch in the eighth, -23.8% WPA