Juan Soto of the Mets is pleased as hits are starting to come in recent weeks.

Juan Soto Reflects on Game-Changing Moments in Victory Over Mets

Juan Soto didn’t dispute the notion that his pivotal sinking line drive during Tuesday’s game would likely be remembered for a long time, especially as it went to right field.

That said, his luck seems to have shifted recently. Soto played a key role in an RBI double amid two rallies, contributing to the Nationals’ thrilling 5-4 walk-off win against the Mets.

“Little by little, I’ve been feeling more confident,” Soto noted. “It’s great to see the ball finding gaps, especially in crucial moments.”

He made significant contributions by throwing a player out at home in the second inning and scoring in the third, but those were merely footnotes when compared to how left-handed Jose Feller reacted to the 0-2 slider in the eighth.

Robert Hassel III misjudged the ball’s path after diving unsuccessfully, allowing Soto to bring the team back to even when Pete Alonso smashed a game-tying hit off the left-field wall.

“I’m just focused on capitalizing on mistakes,” Soto explained. “I know that pitcher has some nasty stuff. My goal is to keep him in my hitting zone.”

After a slow start this season, Soto had been frustrated by good hits that seemed to find gloves instead of gaps—yet now he’s hitting an impressive .378 with an OPS nearing 1.300 over his last 11 games.

“I really wanted that ball to fall,” he chuckled. “I thought it would go a bit further, but I’m just glad it did its job.”

Nationals manager Dave Martinez knows Soto well; after all, he has overseen his first 2,439 plate appearances. Soto’s ups and downs are well-recognized, especially after struggling during the series against the Nationals in late April.

Martinez indicated that slumps for hitters of Soto’s caliber typically stem from chasing pitches or simply being off balance.

“He missed a few pitches he should have hit and ended up fouling them off,” noted Martinez. “Now he’s making better contact, and we have to be cautious because he can turn the game around in an instant.”

And indeed, Soto had several impacts on the game Tuesday. His fifth outfield assist prevented the Mets from maintaining a 3-0 lead, while Mackenzie Gore’s solo homer trimmed the gap to 3-2.

The two, having crossed paths since Soto’s trade to the Padres, saw each other frequently at the plate. After Soto’s home run, he had two strikeouts against Gore earlier in the game.

“Soto got him in his first at-bat, driving the ball deeper,” said coach Carlos Mendoza. “And when he faced him next, I think they handled it how they should have.”