Philadelphia – Mets End Losing Streak
The Mets finally snapped a seven-game losing streak by defeating the Phillies 11-4 at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday night. This victory must have felt like a much-needed breath of fresh air after the team’s recent struggles.
Brandon Nimmo and Juan Soto each hit two home runs, while Francisco Lindor, Jared Young, and Francisco Alvarez contributed significantly with a combined 15 hits. The top three batters in the lineup—Lindor, Nimmo, and Soto—accounted for nine runs, allowing the Mets to tie with the Phillies for the top spot in the NL East. It’s worth noting that during their losing streak, the Mets only managed to score 16 runs.
Nimmo reflected on the losing streak, sharing a bit of his philosophy: “It’s time to fail sometimes. That doesn’t mean you’re okay with it. For instance, take Aaron Judge—he’s a fantastic player, but even he faced struggles in the playoffs.”
Griffin Canning made a decent comeback, earning his fifth victory despite allowing four runs. He gave up six hits and notched four strikeouts but also walked two batters before leaving the game after throwing 94 pitches.
Nimmo kicked off the scoring with a home run in the first inning. However, the Mets faced challenges with runners on base; both Soto and Pete Alonso found themselves stranded in the second and third innings after a wild pitch from Mick Abel. The Phillies retaliated with two runs in the bottom of the inning, thanks to Nick Castellanos’ RBI double and contributions from Max Kepler.
After Canning allowed consecutive singles from Kyle Schwarber and Alec Bohm, the Phillies took a 3-1 lead when Otto Kemp scored on another wild pitch. However, the tide turned when Lindor hit a home run in the third, sparking a rally that also included Nimmo and Soto, who both homered, shifting the Mets ahead 4-3.
It was noteworthy that the Mets recorded their first consecutive home runs since October 4, 2022. Soto’s second homer of the night was particularly impressive, as it soared into the mezzanine, extending the Mets’ lead to 5-3. This marked Soto’s third game this season with multiple home runs, putting him ahead of Alonso, who has 18 this season.
The Phillies managed to slice the Mets’ lead to 5-4 after Trea Turner’s fly ball to center caused a mix-up between Nemo and McNeil. In that moment, McNeil couldn’t hold onto the ball after they collided.
Lindor then struck with a two-run double in the sixth, reassuring the Mets with a 7-4 cushion. Alvarez and Ronnie Mauricio set the stage for Lindor’s hit with singles of their own.
Later, a sharp hit from Young added to the Mets’ score in the eighth inning, pushing them to an 8-4 lead. Soto’s two-run single further padded their advantage, and Alvarez capped off the scoring with a home run in the ninth, bringing the final score to 11-4.
