Mets 11, Padres 6 (Citi Field, Flushing, NY)
Mets Record: 33-37
Mets Streak: W5
Mets Last 10: 8-2
WP: Tylor Megill (2-3) LP: Dylan Cease (6-6)
Seat On The Korner:
We select the star of the game and virtually invite him to a Seat on the Korner, just as Ralph Kiner used to do for his studio postgame show on WOR-channel 9 broadcasts in the early decades of the Mets.
Today's Seat On The Korner goes to Mets' first baseman Pete Alonso, who delivered in a big way to keep the Mets rolling. Alonso went 2 for 5 with a run scored and a three-run homer in the first inning as part of a five-RBI day. That offense proved to be critical in a high-scoring affair.
Need To Know:
The Mets completed their first three-game series sweep of the Padres since August of 2006 at Shea Stadium.
The Mets have now won 11 of their past 15 games and completed a 5-1 home stand.
As of post time, the Mets are now 1.5 games back of the Padres for the final Wild Card spot in the National League and two games back of the St. Louis Cardinals for the second Wild Card spot.
Francisco Lindor launched his first lead-off homer since 2019 off of Padres' starter Dylan Cease in the bottom of the first inning. Ironically, the last time Lindor led off a game with a home run came against Cease when Lindor was in Cleveland and Cease was a member of the Chicago White Sox.
Padres' third baseman Manny Machado and manager Mike Shildt were ejected in the top of the sixth inning for arguing balls and strikes with home plate umpire Adam Beck.
Starling Marte had a tough day at the office, going 0-for-4 at the plate and struggling with his reads of fly balls once again, but he salvaged the afternoon with a nice diving catch to end the seventh inning.
The Mets have now won more games in June (9) than they did in the entirety of May (8).
Turning Point
The turning point came early in this one as the Mets took advantage of a slow start from Cease to build an early lead. Alonso's three-run blast gave the home team a 4-0 lead and left the Padres chasing offense for the rest of the afternoon.
Three Things:
J.D. Martinez Keeps On Keeping On
This homestand has served as a coming out party for J.D. Martinez, who stayed hot this afternoon by going 2-for-3 with a double, a run scored, an RBI and two walks. Martinez actually reached base his first four times up to run his streak of consecutive times reaching base up to 10 before recording an out in the eighth inning. The Mets also have seen Martinez rack up a streak of 20 consecutive games reaching base as his hot streak has helped wake up the offense.
A Near Meltdown From The Bullpen
The eighth inning was almost a disaster for the Mets, who saw Jake Diekman inherit a runner and put himself in big trouble by committing a throwing error to set up the Padres with runners on the corners with no one out. Diekman proceeded to walk the next two men, forcing in a run, and giving up another run on a fielder's choice. Drew Smith added fuel to the fire by giving up an RBI double and a sac fly to allow the tying run to reach third, but he recovered to get the final two outs and keep the Mets in front.
A Much-Needed Tack On Inning
The Mets responded to the implosion in the top of the eighth by adding plenty of insurance in the bottom, scoring four runs thanks to a homer from Luis Torrens, an RBI single from Brandon Nimmo and a two-run single from Alonso to cap the scoring. The rally was a nice sign that this team is gaining confidence in itself and now is set to hit the road looking to build on a tremendous start to the month of June.