Mark Vientos hit two homers as the Mets jumped out to an eight-run lead but they had to hold on late, before emerging with a 9-7 win over the Yankees Tuesday night at Citi Field. The Mets have now won 14 of their last 18 games.
The Mets jumped out to a 1-0 lead thanks to a first inning RBI single by Tyrone Taylor. And then they broke out the big bats. Vientos hit his first homer of the game in the second inning and two batters later Harrison Bader left the yard, too.
And it was another daily double in the fourth inning, as Vientos delivered his second homer and Brandon Nimmo hit a two-run shot to make it 6-0.
After the Yankees hit a solo shot of their own, the Mets tacked on three more runs in the sixth inning, highlighted by an RBI double by J.D. Martinez.
But the Yankees pushed across a run in the seventh inning before busting out for five runs in the eighth. The Mets needed three pitchers to get thru the eighth and all three gave up runs.
Reed Garrett allowed a grand slam homer to the first batter he faced but got the final out of the eighth before retiring the side in the ninth to finish off the game.
David Peterson started but was unable to complete five innings. Dedniel Nunez got the final two outs of the fifth and pitched two additional innings, allowing just an unearned run. He picked up his first win of the season.
The Mets moved to within one game of .500 as the victory raised their record to 38-39.
Great that they hung on to win. Judge has 80 RBI and it’s not even the mid point yet. Amazing. Unlike Peter Alonzo, he’s worth every penny they’re paying him. Nice to see the long balls tonight, including two by Vientos. Ottovino continues to look like he’s lost. Nice start by Peterson and too bad he was over 100 pitches and in a jam sohe could not pick up the win. Manaea draws Gil tomorrow as the boys go for the two game sweep and climb up to .500. Helluva month of June. LGM
A win is a win.
Carlos Mendoza had no business removing Adam Ottavino after three hitters with a seven run lead. Talk about over reacting… come on dude.
The Mets power was on display, so was the Mets wildness. It’s really getting frustrating seeing all these walks. Peterson needed 100+ pitches to get 13 outs. How sad. On the grad slam to Judge, Garrett missed his target by three feet! Wow!
As for the good news, the Mets offense showing itself to be diversified and potent. Martinez, Alonso, Alvarez – the heart of the order – didn’t do too much and the team scored nine runs. McNeil looking like a new player lately… wow! Dedniel Nunez looked awesome and it would be great to see the 13 best arms in the system on the team at the same time (12 now during the suspension). Ottavino deserved better.
The Mets need wins, wins are good, and wins over the Yankees are really good. The bats did their job and mastered Citifield for the night. Not to be picky, but the walks…Peterson is Peterson, he is maddening and very scrappy at the same time. But the pen….2 walks in an inning that started with an 8 run lead. I’d have left Otto in but I can understand being bugged by the BB. It is hard to fathom how Garrett throws an 0-2 middle middle FB to the most dangerous hitter in the game after two nasty splitters, then paced in the dugout, but he did show good resolve in the 9th, even though he had luck on the first out. Bottom line, we’ll take it. Onward.
Gut reaction: The first 21 innings of Nunez MLB are impressive. He has been a reliable multi-inning reliever . This year, Veintos has averaged one home run with every 13.1 at bats. Alonso has an average 18.5 this year but 13.6 career-wise .
It would be nice to sweep the Yankees and reach .500.