Soto Sparks Mets Just When They Need It

 

Juan Soto rounds first base on his fourth-inning home run. Photo by Jason Schott.

When Juan Soto was in The Bronx for his cameo last season, it was easy to see he was this Yankees' era version of "the straw that stirs the drink," as Reggie Jackson was called when he led them to two World Series titles after a long drought.

This past off-season, he crossed town to join the Mets, and it wasn't clear when he would fill that role, as Pete Alonso carried the team early on as Soto was settling in.

Wednesday night at Citi Field was just such a moment for Soto.

The Mets, who had lost the first two of their series with the underachieving Atlanta Braves, were tied at 1 in the bottom of the fourth inning after Ronny Mauricio hit a solo home run in the bottom of the third and Atlanta's Drake Baldwin hit one of his own in the top of the fourth.

Juan Soto led off the bottom of the fourth inning against Didier Fuentes, and he took the first pitch he saw to right-center field for a solo home run, and the Mets were back ahead, 2-1.

This was just the start for the Mets, as Alonso was then hit by a pitch before Jeff McNeil laced a double to left field.

Starling Marte then hit a sacrifice fly to center field to bring in Alonso, and McNeil came in to score on a Brett Baty RBI single to right field to make it 4-1 Mets.

Ronny Mauricio and Hayden Senger followed with singles to load the bases, and that was all for Fuentes' night.

Atlanta then turned to Aaron Bummer, and Francisco Lindor got a sacrifice fly to left to bring in Baty.

Brandon Nimmo followed with an RBI single to make it a five-run inning and open up a 6-1 lead.

Soto found himself back at the plate for his second at-bat of the frame, but this time he struck out to end the inning.

Then, Soto came up to lead off the top of the seventh, with left-hander Austin Cox on for the Braves.

Soto worked the count to 3-1 before he crushed a four-seam fastball to nearly the same spot in right-center field, in the gap between the 7 Line Army Seats and the fence, for the solo shot, which made it 7-1 Mets.

It was Soto's 19th home run of the season - eighth in his last 15 games - and that gave him the team lead over Alonso's 18, which considering how each player began their seasons, is remarkable it happened before July.

The two-RBI night gives Soto 45 on the season, which is second on the team to Alonso's 64 RBI.

The Mets went on to win 7-3, as they improved to 47-34, and that brought them back to within a half-game of the Philadelphia Phillies (47-33) for first place in the National League East.

Clay Holmes earned the win, as he threw five innings, and allowed just one run on three hits and four walks, with two strikeouts. He is now 8-4 with a 2.97 ERA.

Clay Holmes firing one in to Matt Olson in the third inning. Photo by Jason Schott.