Mets Triumph Over Yankees in Subway Series

NEW YORK — Pete Alonso received a warm welcome from teammates as he emerged from the New York Mets’ dugout for a curtain call. His second home run in the seventh inning dealt a significant blow to the New York Yankees, securing a six-run lead. The crowd’s chants of his name turned into enthusiastic applause.

The cheers are a recent return to Citi Field, as the Mets seem to have moved past their nearly three-week slump, defeating the Yankees 12-6. This victory marked the Mets’ fourth consecutive win (52-38), while the Yankees (48-41) are reeling from their sixth straight loss. For the second day in a row, the Mets launched three home runs to clinch this weekend’s Subway Series.

Even prior to Brandon Nimmo’s first-inning grand slam off Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodon, signs of a good day were evident in the Mets’ dugout. Alonso and Francisco Lindor were particularly effective in their at-bats, with Alonso wisely avoiding tempting pitches and Lindor patiently working through tough sliders, both drawing walks. This approach opened the door for Nimmo, who capitalized with his second grand slam in four days, smashing Rodon’s hittable slider.

“When we are controlling the strike zone as a team,” said Mets manager Carlos Mendoza, “we are dangerous.” After struggling with a mere 2.7 runs per game during a troubling 17-game stretch, the Mets have now scored six or more runs in three of their last four games. They have recalibrated their offense to compensate for deficiencies in pitching and defense.

With many pitchers sidelined due to injuries, the Mets have relied on their bats to carry the load, much like the Yankees. Fortunately, the lineup has risen to the occasion, supporting starter Frankie Montas. Although he allowed four earned runs over 5 2/3 innings, his aggressive pitching—starting strikes to 17 of 22 batters without issuing walks—was commendable.

In a match-up described by Nimmo as two heavyweight fighters in a grueling bout, getting an early lead proved crucial. Nimmo celebrated his grand slam with restraint, aware that the team likely needed more runs—this marked his third grand slam of the season, a feat last achieved by a Mets player in 2006.

While the Mets displayed signs of a potent offense, they still struggled with a bottom-heavy lineup—batters six through nine went hitless. However, recent improvements have been evident. As the Mets await the returns of injured pitchers Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea, they are elevating their quality of at-bats, leading to better outcomes. “When we out-quality-at-bat the other team, we usually win,” Nimmo noted.