The New York Mets closed a series against the Athletics Sunday afternoon in style 8-0 behind the magnificent performance of Kodai Senga. He performed at his best since 2023, shutting down the Athletics over seven innings, allowing only four hits and two walks. A late-game hitting explosion helped him, as the bats garnered eight runs over the last four innings. Would New York continue against the Minnesota Twins?
It didn’t look like so at first. Francisco Lindor started the game off with a double but was left on base. Juan Soto and Brando Nimmo both struck out, diffusing the rally. Critics ready to pounce took pleasure in Soto’s inability to drive Lindor home.
Mets hitters have struggled; Pete Alonso has been the one constant. When needing an early run to take some of the pressure off starter Clay Holmes, who better to turn to? In the top of the third, Alonso came up with Luisangel Acuna on second and two outs. He came through with a clutch single, bringing home the first run.
The superlatives can’t begin to do justice to Alonso’s hot start. He is bashing to an exceptional .345 hitting clip with 1.137 on base plus slugging percentage. He has four home runs and 19 runs batted in just 69 plate appearances. He is responsible for 31 out of the 66 runs New York has scored, a 47% clip!
Acuna, over the last week, has played more second base over Brett Baty as they fill in for injured Jeff McNeil. He has shined in the field and has chipped in big hits to help maintain run-scoring drives. Last night proved no different.
Acuna went two for three with a walk and two runs scored. He scored his first run in the top of the third, doubled in the fifth, and then scored in the seventh after a bunt single. McNeil figures to come back shortly, and Acuna is giving Mets management something to think about.
Soto has gotten on base this season and has been in the middle of most of New York’s scoring rallies. Power, though, hasn’t arrived yet. He started last night with only one HR and hadn’t hit the long ball in his last 13 games.
Soto, in his first three bat appearances, had men on base. Each time, he collected an out. Many Mets fans have grumbled about his slow power start and massive contract. The top of the seventh offered yet another opportunity with runners on the bag; Acuna stood at second.
Soto hit a bomb deep center, 405 feet away. The HR reminded fans of why he was brought to New York and hopefully quieted some of his critics. He has hit 35 and 41 HR’s the last two seasons, so the power will come.
The move of Holmes from the bullpen to the rotation has been one of the season’s biggest stories. He dominated Spring Training, not allowing a run until his last start. Excellence made it easy for many to lose sight of how difficult the adjustment would be.
Holmes labored through his first few starts, struggling with command and ample base runners. He kept the runs down, but extended pitches kept him from going deep into games.
Last Tuesday, Holmes controlled his stuff and struck out 10 in 5 1/3 innings. He left the sixth, having only allowed one run before the bullpen allowed three inherited runners to score. Still, he gave the Mets his best start yet. Did he have more to offer?
Holmes responded last night with a resounding “YES!” He started the first by striking all three batters he faced and five over the first two innings. He worked into the fifth before allowing a run but quickly closed the damage. He finished his evening with a superlative five innings pitched, only allowing two hits and two walks, and striking out eight.
General Manager David Stearns thought that Holmes had the pitching arsenal to become a quality starter. Stearns believed that the Mets’ pitching lab and analytics would help accelerate the transition. The early signs indicated it might take a while, but Holmes has taken big leaps over his last two starts.
Senga’s Sunday masterpiece gave New York much to be excited about. Holmes’s work yesterday added to the thrills. They are showing the capability to be a dynamic 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation. More ups and downs are sure to come, but their considerable talents have been on display.
The bullpen has been unhittable all season, continuing their dominance yesterday evening. The relief corps went four innings pitched, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out five to keep the Twins stuck at one run.
Mets hitters have started to get going, scoring five runs or more in three of their last four games. Soto ended his power slump, which usually signals a streak around the corner. Alonso is a leading MVP candidate. Production has come from unsung places like Acuna and Luis Torrens.
Much has gone wrong this season, yes. New York has not played anywhere near its ceiling. Yet, they are in first with an 11-5 record. The rotation is showing promising signs, the bullpen could end up as the best, and the lineup filled with accomplished hitters is starting to act like it. The potential exists to be a 100-win team.
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