Mets’ Pitching Staff Does the Work, Fish Are Left in the Cold, 2-0

Mets 2 Marlins 0 (Citi Field, New York, NY)

Mets Record: 7-3

Mets Streak: W5

Mets Last 10: 7-3

WP: Kodai Senga (1-1)

LP: Valente Bellozo (0-1)

S: Ryne Stanek (1 )

Seat On The Korner: Francisco Lindor

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.

Tonight, we invite Francisco Lindor to join us in the virtual "Seat on the Korner," just like the good ol' days when Ralph Kiner used to reel in players for his postgame chats on WOR-Channel 9. Kiner had a knack for picking players who had big moments, like Benny Ayala, who made history with his first home run in his first Major League at-bat. Or Gary Carter, who had the audacity to hit a walk-off home run in his first game as a Met on Opening Day in 1985. Oh, the memories!

But tonight, Kiner would have had no trouble picking Lindor—who didn’t just walk into the clubhouse and say, "Hey, I’m here to play," but instead made it count. Lindor kicked things off by leading off the game with a hit for the fourth straight day—the fourth! That’s the third time in his career he’s pulled off such a feat, the first two with Cleveland, and now, for the first time as a Met. That’s hit No. 1,498 for those keeping track. And he wasn’t done. In the third inning, Lindor followed up with a bunt single, No. 1,499 and he came around to score on Juan Soto's double. But he wasn’t about to stop there—he got hit No. 1,500 in the fifth with a single to right, making history like it was just another cold Monday night at the office. So, in case you’re wondering, yes, Kiner would have called him up to the Korner. After all, when you’re talking milestones like these, there’s no such thing as too much history..

Need To Know:

Game time temperature was 42 degrees, making it the fourth-coldest game-time temp in Citi Field history.
The Mets are on a season-high five-game winning streak...The team has won six of their last seven contests...New York is a season-high four games over .500.
The Mets continue their first homestand of the season, a six-
game stand against the Blue Jays (3-0) and the Marlins (1-0).
Following this homestand, the Mets are off on Thursday before the start
of a six-game road trip against the A's (three games) and Twins (three
The Mets moved to 4-0 at home this season…It is the first
time the Mets have won their first four home games since 2015 when
they won their first 10 home games of the season...The Mets have posted
a 0.75 ERA (3 ER/36.0 IP) at home this year...That is the best mark in the
majors.
Francisco Lindor led off the game with a hit for the fourth straight day, the third time in his career he’s accomplished that feat — twice with Cleveland, and now for the first time as a Met.
Juan Soto has safely reached base in all ten games with the Mets this season...He has five extra-base hits, four RBI and eight walks.
With his two hits in tonight's game Pete Alonso over his last seven games, is batting .363 with three home runs, three doubles, 11 RBI, six runs and three walks.
The Mets battery today was Senga throwng to Senger.
In six starts against Miami, Kodai Senga is 4-1 with a 2.22 ERA (8 ER/32.1 IP) and 37 strikeouts...The Marlins are the only team that Senga has thrown more than 14.0 innings against or has more than two starts against and his 37 strikeouts are his most against any opponent.
In 19 career games at Citi Field Senga has a 7-3 record to go along with a 2.35 ERA (27 ER/103.1 IP) which is the seventh best in the history of the ballpark (min. 90.0 IP) ...He also has held batters to a .180 batting average (66-365) and has 137 strikeouts
Sandy Alcantara was placed on the paternity list and is expected to be away from the team for a couple of days. He should still be on track to make his next start Friday vs. the Nationals.
Valente Bellozo was recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville to make his second spot start of the season. After pitching two innings in relief in the minors on just two days' rest, he gave the Marlins a solid outing. In tonight’s game, Bellozo went 3 2/3 innings, allowing 5 hits, 1 run, 2 walks, and 2 strikeouts. His first start of the season, against the Pirates, saw him surrender just one run over 4 1/3 innings.
Miami was 2-4 at New York last season, dropping each of the three-game series at Citi Field. The last time the Marlins won a series at Citi Field was in 2020, going 2-1 in a three-game set from August 25-26. Excluding the COVID-season,the Marlins previous series victory against the Mets in New York was in 2018, going 2-1 from May 21-23.

Turning Point

What looked like the beginning of a big inning for the Marlins turned into a missed opportunity—and a momentum shift the Mets were happy to take.

The top of the first started with Xavier Edwards singling on the very first pitch of the game, setting an early tone. After a walk to Kyle Stowers, the Marlins had two on with nobody out.

But the Mets quickly tightened up. Otto Lopez grounded into a force out—Francisco Lindor to Luisangel Acuña—erasing Stowers at second and moving Edwards to third. Then, with runners on the corners and one out, the Marlins tried to push the envelope. Lopez took off for second but was caught stealing—Hayden Senger fired a strike to Lindor, who applied the tag. Two outs.

Now with Matt Mervis at the plate and Edwards still on third, the Marlins put runners on the corners with a walk. But Kodai Senga slammed the door, getting Eric Wagaman to ground out to Pete Alonso at first to end the inning unscathed.

A promising start turned into a scoreless frame—and the Mets never looked back.

Three Keys:

Leather Weather: Mets and Marlins Flash the Leather in the Cold

On a frigid night at Citi Field, with the temperature barely cracking 42 degrees, both teams brought the heat with their gloves. The highlight came in the third inning, when Mark Vientos smoked a liner to left with Juan Soto on second—destined for the gap and an RBI—until Griffin Conine laid out with a full-extension dive to rob him. It was the kind of play that momentarily silenced the Citi Field crowd and kept the game tight. Otto Lopez and Alonso each tracked down tough foul pops near the stands, navigating swirling winds and cold hands to secure outs that easily could have dropped. Jose Butto added a nifty pick off for good measure. In a game dominated by pitching and chilly air, the defense did its part to warm things up.

The Young and the Scoreless

The Mets' bullpen was nothing short of masterful once again in preserving a slim one-run lead. After Kodai Senga delivered five dominant, scoreless innings, manager Carlos Mendoza called on Danny Young to take over in the sixth. Young had struggled in his earlier outings this season, but tonight he looked back to form, tossing a perfect inning with just one hit allowed and a strikeout.

Next up was José Butto, who kept the momentum going with two more flawless innings. Butto allowed only one hit, issued a walk, and struck out two, making it clear he was up to the task. With Edwin Díaz having pitched in back-to-back games, Mendoza turned to Ryne Stanek to close it out. Stanek, calm and composed, retired the side in order in the ninth—striking out one—securing his first save as a New York Met.

Chilly Weather, Warm Gesture: Mets Change Time and Share Ticket Love

Tuesday’s game between the New York Mets and the Miami Marlins has been moved to 4:10 p.m. due to weather. Gates will open at 3:10 p.m., and parking lots will open at 2:40 p.m.

Tickets for the originally scheduled 7:10 p.m. start will be valid for the 4:10 p.m. game tomorrow.

As a thank you to fans, anyone holding a ticket for tomorrow’s game will receive a voucher for a ticket to any remaining Monday-Thursday Mets 2025 regular season home game in April and May at Citi Field, subject to availability. The digital voucher will be loaded into each attending patron’s My Mets Tickets account (accessible by clicking the Vouchers tab) and will be available Wednesday morning.