The Mets and their fans have fun while the visitors take the “L” on the way out of the stadium.
When Col. Jacob Ruppert once owned the Yankees, he mentioned his idea of a perfect afternoon at Yankee Stadium: the home team scoring eight runs in the first inning and then slowly pulling. There’s no doubt he enjoyed plenty of those moments.
Steve Cohen certainly envisioned days and nights like that when he bought the Mets for $2.4 billion in 2020. The fans were looking forward to a new era of hope after being beaten down by the Wilpons’ stupidity. On Friday night at Citi Field, we can now say it has finally come after the Mets’ 7-2 whipping on 13 hits against the NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs.
It was another night at the office. The Mets dominated at home, improving to 14-3 for the season and winning their 25th game in front of a capacity crowd—the type that Cohen wanted to see heading into this season. It was also an opening statement against a team that dreams of going to the World Series this season. The Mets dominated by hitting four home runs. This season, the Citi Field audience has consistently enjoyed a stress-free game.
It all started early when Francisco Lindor made a one-handed grab to get Kyle Tucker out for the second out of the first inning. Then, Lindor hit his 118th leadoff home run to give the Mets a 1-0 lead in that inning. That feat was good for tying Ed Kranepool for 13th in franchise history.
You know it’s a big game when Lindor steps up in those moments. He knew what was at stake here. He came out to set the tone in a buzz that smelled like a postseason game this night. He’s always reliable. He knows what to do in this setting, which is hard to teach.
His first inning set the stage for an excellent night for the home team. He finished the night by going 3-for-5 with a home run and a stolen base. Then, Brett Baty and Jeff McNeil homered in the second inning, extending the Mets’ lead to 3-0. The Mets tacked on two more runs in the third inning when Brandon Nimmo and Francisco Alvarez scored on Swanson’s throwing error.
If you are scoring at home, the Mets scored a run in the first, two in the second, and two in the third. That’s scoring the first five runs in three innings to make a point against a contender.
It speaks well of the Mets’ culture, which is that they are ready to play, a culture of professionalism, and the know-how to win from the summer of Grimace, Angel Iglesias ‘ song, OMG, last season, when they went on a hot streak that finished with an NL Championship Series appearance. They understand the significance of home-field advantage when they are playing at home.
Again, it starts with Lindor leading the way by showing that he is done in the first inning, a nd the rest of the guys feed off of the best player who has to play like one in a game of this setting, especially at home.
Juan Soto put the exclamation mark on this game by hitting his eighth home run of the season on a 434-foot shot to center field, making this a great game. Yes, the rout was on. He had an RBI single in the eighth inning, extending the lead to 7-1.
It also means Soto is heating up. He has five home runs in the last eight games after hitting three in the first 31 games. In his previous eight games, he has been hitting .367 with two doubles, seven RBIs, .474 OBPs, and 1.407 OPS. Talk about right timing with the Mets playing the Cubs, Yankees, and Dodgers over the next three weekends.
Every starter in the Mets lineup had a hit in this contest.
The Mets received an efficient pitching performance from Clay Holmes, a good signing by Mets president of baseball operations, David Stearns. All Holmes has done is pitch quality starts when he is out there. He did it again by allowing a run on three hits in six innings with five strikeouts to show for it. This was impressive since it was baseball’s highest-scoring offense at 225 runs. The bullpen finished it, though Danny Young had to battle out of a jam.
Citi Field has become a place where the Mets and their fans have fun while the visitors take the “L” on the way out of the stadium.
The home team should be responsible for home runs, strikeouts, and entertainment. The only time guys should be calling their shots is from the home team, as we are seeing now.
The way it should be. On a night like Friday, Rupper and Cohen can beam with pride.
