SAN FRANCISCO — Mark Vientos’ Playing Time and Recent Performance
Mark Vientos doesn’t have much guaranteed playing time this season, so getting a lot of at-bats is crucial for him.
In his last four games, he’s managed to accumulate a noteworthy amount of contributions.
This past Saturday, he reached base three times for the second game in a row, although it coincided with the Mets’ 9-0 defeat against the Giants at Oracle Park.
The Mets celebrated their second win in a row, even without Juan Soto, who left Friday’s game with a mild right calf strain after an MRI. He’ll be rested at least until Tuesday, when the team will decide if he needs to go on the disabled list.
Vientos is feeling the weight of this situation. On Saturday evening, he came through during two scoring rallies, finishing the game with a 3-for-5 performance. It marks a turning point, especially considering how the Mets struggled offensively at the beginning of the season.
His performance, backed by a respectable .1.369 OPS, is complemented by his solid work at first base, a position he’s sharing with Jorge Polanco as Polanco manages left Achilles tendonitis.
Clay Holmes delivered a stellar performance, pitching seven shutout innings after Nolan McLean’s strong showing the night before. Holmes allowed just one run, two walks, and three hits during his 90 pitches. This marks another season of impressive pitching for him; he allowed two earned runs in five innings against the Cardinals earlier in the week.
The only moment of distress for Holmes came in the second inning when Matt Chapman got on base with an infield hit, reaching second due to Bo Bichette’s throwing error. However, Vientos made a diving stop and tossed the ball to Holmes, who covered first, resulting in two quick outs.
The Mets are set to have another chance to secure the series win on Sunday, as Kodai Senga is scheduled to pitch for the second time.
In that same second inning, with the bases loaded, Carson Benge grounded out to third, which sparked a two-run play. Chapman mishandled the ball at first, leading to another error. Vientos and Jared Young scored, while Luis Torrence’s grounder added one more run, bringing the score to 3-0.
Vientos ignited a rally with a double, followed by Young’s walk and Semien’s infield hit, filling the bases. Semien, who struggled earlier in the week, managed to secure a hit, continuing his newfound momentum.
In the fifth inning, Bichette hit an RBI single to extend the lead to 4-0. Torrence had already contributed a single in the first inning and reached second on a groundout, while Bichette notched his team-high six RBIs for the season. Vientos collected his third hit of the game with an RBI single in the first inning, setting up the Mets for further success. After Ryan Borki took the mound, Tyrone Taylor replaced Young and smashed a three-run homer, putting the Giants in a challenging 8-0 position.
Taylor also added an RBI single in the seventh, and Brett Batty’s leadoff double propelled the Mets to a commanding 9-0 lead.
