Gut Reaction: Mets 13, Rockies 5 (6/8/25)
Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil both hit two homers, as the Mets clubbed eight extra-base hits and emerged with a 13-5 win over the Rockies Sunday afternoon in Denver. The Mets got the sweep and went 6-0 versus the Rockies this season. New York is now 42-24 on the season and it holds a 4.5 game lead over the second-place Phillies.
The Mets jumped on top early on the way to scoring in six different innings, including five crooked numbers. And the shocking thing is that they scored 13 runs despite their one-two hitters going a combined 1-12.
But the middle of the order came thru in spades. Juan Soto went 3-3 with 3 BB. Alonso had three hits, McNeil had three hits, adding a double to his two homers. Ronny Mauricio had two hits and two walks. McNeil’s OPS now sits at .888 and hopefully no one wants him to be a slap hitter anymore. Mauricio has rebounded from an 0-11 start to have an .807 OPS
And the bottom of the order was very productive, too. Francisco Alvarez, batting ninth, had a 3-hit game with a homer. Brett Baty in the eighth spot also homered.
Tylor Megill struck out the side in the first inning and was strong thru four innings. In the fifth he gave up two runs but the Mets were up at that point, 8-2. Megill got the win and now is 5-4 with a 3.76 ERA.
Paul Blackburn came on and picked up a save with a four-inning outing. It was the first save of that length since Brian Stokes turned the trick in 2008. The Mets have had two no-hitters since they last had a four-out save. We talked about the four-inning save in the chatter before Megill even left the game. And the Mets’ statistical crew came up with the answer.
The Mets get Monday off and return to Citi Field with a three-game set against the Nationals. We hope they can keep the offense clicking away from Coors Field. Griffin Canning gets the start in the opener, with a 7:10 p.m. start time.
Great to see the offense breakout. Love Mauricio at the DH. Alonso has another big game. Megill out of gas finishing five on just 85 pitches. Soto scores three runs and even Alvarez bangs out three hits. This is exactly what the doctor ordered leading up to playing some more competitive teams back home. And the Phillies and Braves both lost again. It’s so absurd to be following the standings so early in the season, but when you are ahead in the standings it’s just great.
Two comments: (1) Ya gotta love it when the Mets pick up a full game on everyone in the division.
(2) The Megill-Blackburn piggyback is a really good pitching staff strategy. I wonder if they might do that more often through the season. Blackburn fits that role very well. I almost think that would be a good approach with Manaea and Montas when they both come back.