Gut Reaction: Mets 5, Rockies 3 (6/1/25)
For the third straight game, the Mets hit three homers against Rockies pitchers, leading to a 5-3 win and a sweep of the three-game series. The Mets are now 37-22, 15 games over .500 for the first time this season.
The Mets were stymied by a side-arming lefty the first trip thru the order. Second time around it was a different story. A walk and a HBP brought up Pete Alonso, who crushed a ball to right field, a ball that Statcast said would have been a homer in all 30 parks.
Clay Holmes gave up his second homer of the game and it was a 3-3 tie in the top of the fifth. But Francisco Lindor quickly put the Mets back on top with a homer to left center against the lefty. Juan Soto gave the Mets an insurance run in the eighth inning with a homer to right center.
Outside of the gopher balls, Holmes pitched a strong game. He was pulled after seven innings, although with his pitch count at 85, it wouldn’t have been a shock if Carlos Mendoza sent him back for the eighth. But with a rested bullpen, there wasn’t much reason to push Holmes. The converted reliever now is 6-3 with a 3.07 ERA.
Reed Garrett struck out two batters in the eighth inning and Edwin Diaz struck out the side in the ninth and picked up his 13th save of the year.
It was a 7-2 homestand for the Mets, as they went 2-1 against the Dodgers and White Sox, before the sweep against the Rockies. Now, the Mets embark on a West Coast trip, starting off against the Dodgers, with Paul Blackburn expected to make his season debut in the 10:10 p.m. start.
It seems that they always win when I am not able to watch the game. The Mets did exactly what they needed to do by sweeping the lowly Rockies. Now they are off to the West Coast to play four games with the Dodgers where we should always hope for a split and then three more games with the Rockies where another sweep would certainly not be out of the question. A sweep this coming week against the Rockies, which certainly be what the doctor ordered because when they return from the West Coast, they have a combination of home and away games against them very strong teams. This will be the stretch that will help define who exactly they are. Another fine outing by Holmes and and when I looked at the update on my ESPN app, I thought also that with just 85 pictures he might go out for the next inning. Happy the relievers shut them down.
Everyone has to play their schedule, so we shouldn’t take wins for granted. Beating the teams “you’re supposed to beat”, is part of a successful season. The Phillies this week got swept at home by Milwaukee, won 2/3 against Atlanta, but lost against West Sacramento. So, they were 2-5 this week and now the Mets are in first place!!! There isn’t any shame in that and while the Dodgers just beat the Yankees 18-2 yesterday, it was just one game and they split the other two.
I agree that the Mets are a good team and I wouldn’t be surprised if they took three of four in Los Angeles. I agree that the right guys are getting hot and if they can stay hot, the Mets will win alot of games no matter the opponent. And I believe, on Friday morning we may be looking at the Mets as the best team in baseball right now.