The New York Mets won a well-rounded game on Tuesday, 5-1, over the Philadelphia Phillies. Francisco Lindor continued his recent tear, collecting three hits and propelling the Mets’ attack. Over the last week, he has hit .448 with 1.362 on base plus slugging percentage. He has four home runs and nine runs batted in during that span.
Griffin Canning contributed greatly to the victory. He pitched five innings, allowing seven hits, one run, and striking out five. He controlled Philadelphia, allowing the bats to grab hold of the game. Could New York continue the excellent play and sweep the Phillies?
Brett Baty has been an enigma for the Mets. He has excelled at all levels of the minor leagues with outstanding hitting and solid fielding. He has performed well in Spring Training, including this year, where he hit three home runs and led the Grapefruit League with a 1.123 OPS. He hasn’t been able to carry it in the majors, struggling mightily in all opportunities.
This season hasn’t been any different for Baty. Going into the series finale against Philadelphia, he hit .192 with a .524 OPS, zero HR’s and two RBI. The last week, though, has shown some signs of life. He went five for 16 with two runs scored, an RBI, and an .859 OPS. Could he do more against the Phillies?
Baty answered with a resounding “YES!” Facing one of the best pitchers, Zack Wheeler, he got New York on the scoreboard. He blasted a 425-foot HR to right field, bringing home Mark Vientos and giving the Mets a 2-0 lead.
Hitting in the clutch against an elite starting arm could be a career-changer for Baty. Confidence is the key factor for young players taking the big step towards major league performance. He is a former first-round pick, so the talent is there. He needs clear evidence that he can produce at the highest level, and homering off Wheeler helps provide that.
Lindor had a fantastic first two games against Philadelphia. He hit two HRs on Monday, including a lead-off blast for the second straight day. On Tuesday, he went three for five with a run scored and an RBI. Could he continue in the series finale?
As hot as Lindor has been, what else could the answer be but “YES!” He went two for four with a run scored. He played a huge role in the critical 10th inning, coming around to score the tying run. His play sparked New York’s attack, as they overcame a one-run deficit to win the game.
Last season, Pete Alonso struggled mightily with runners in scoring position, swinging wildly at pitches off the plate. He admitted it was a poor year, but he also had his Mets moment with the dramatic three-run HR to beat the Brewers in the playoffs. Since then, he has been a different player.
Alonso has been helped by adding Juan Soto to take the pressure off. He has also developed improved patience. He makes pitches work to throw him a hitter’s pitch rather than chase.
It feels like when New York gets a clutch hit this season, Alonso gets it. That didn’t change on Wednesday. He came up to bat with Lindor on third and one out, the Mets down 3-2. He promptly doubled, tying the game.
New York signed Starling Marte to a four-year, $78 million contract in November 2021. They expected him to be a huge bat, which he lived up to initially. Injuries, though, made him more of a part-time player.
The transformative offseason owner, Steve Cohen, directed his franchise to make it easy to overlook Marte. He is now a role player who must be used carefully. He also has gotten off to a slow start, hitting .171 with a .564 OPS.
Wednesday, Marte had an opportunity to make himself heard. He stepped up to the plate in the 10th inning, the score tied, men on first and second, and two outs. He singled to center, bringing home Alonso for the winning score!
The Mets have the best record in the game, 18-7. They have a five-game lead over the NL East. Against the Phillies, they played terrific in all aspects, displaying clutch hitting, fantastic starting pitching, elite bullpen work, and sound fielding.
Carlos Mendoza deserves a lot of credit. New York has dominated despite Soto hitting .233, Vientos hitting .175, and Brandon Nimmo hitting .196. He has managed a rotation with MLB’s best ERA despite missing their projected ace, Sean Manaea.
Edwin Diaz has been like a rollercoaster ride, which continued Wednesday as he had to leave the game due to injury. New York didn’t blink, plugging in Max Kranick to keep the Mets within a run. They play with much confidence, which comes from their manager.
It has been a fantastic ride, but there is reason to believe it could only be the beginning. Struggling hitters, such as Soto, are due for extensive hot streaks. Vital pitching arms like Manaea will be returning. New York fans should be ready for a fun summer!
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