The Mets beat the Padres, 6-1, on Thursday afternoon at Citi Field...
Here are the takeaways...
- Pete Alonsoopened the scoring in the first inning, rocketing a solo homer 445 feet to left-center that landed just to the left of the center field black that surrounds the Home Run Apple. It was Alonso's fourth consecutive game with a homer, setting a career-high.
- After San Diego got a scratch unearned run against Jonah Tong in top of the third inning to tie things, 1-1, the Mets answered back in a big way in the bottom half.
Following back-to-back singles by Cedric Mullins and Francisco Lindor, Juan Sotodrove Mullins in with a ground out to second to give New York a 2-1 lead -- it was Soto's 100th RBI of the season. With Brandon Nimmo up, the Padres removed starter Randy Vasquez in favor of left-hander Wandy Rodriguez, but Nimmo greeted him by blasting a three-run homer to right-center to make it 5-1, Mets.
It was Nimmo's 24th home run of the year, tying his career-high, which he set in 2023.
- Tong's start began inauspiciously, as he allowed a one-out single to Luis Arraez before Manny Machado rocketed a ball over Nimmo's head in left field. But the Mets gunned down Machado at second base and Tong struck out Jackson Merrill to strand Arraez at third base.
Tong settled in after the first. He allowed the aforementioned unearned run in the third inning, but was otherwise largely dominant. He twirled perfect innings in the fourth and fifth, striking out four consecutive batters at one point.
After starting the game sitting mainly 93-94 mph with his fastball, Tong dialed it up a bit in the middle innings while topping out at 96 mph. And the heater had plenty of life up in the zone, leading to a bunch of swings and misses.
Overall, Tong allowed one run (unearned) on four hits while walking none and striking out eight. He threw 82 pitches, with 59 going for strikes.
In the process, he became the first Mets pitcher aged 22 or younger to strike out eight or more batters since Noah Syndergaard in 2015.
- Tyler Rogers tossed a perfect sixth inning in relief of Tong, with Brooks Raley twirling a spotless seventh. Gregory Soto worked around two hits (that both caromed off him) in a scoreless eighth.
- Edwin Diaz retired the side in order in the ninth.
Game MVP: Jonah Tong
It was a monster outing for Tong after he struggled his last time out.
Highlights
Two more strikeouts for Jonah Tong in the fourth! pic.twitter.com/fNIDZ1dHlK
— SNY (@SNYtv) September 18, 2025
Pete Alonso has a home run in four straight games! pic.twitter.com/L4vfdXLVao
— SNY (@SNYtv) September 18, 2025
Juan Soto puts the Mets back on top with his 100th RBI of the season pic.twitter.com/vk1RLwDy2Q
— SNY (@SNYtv) September 18, 2025
BRANDON NIMMO!
— SNY (@SNYtv) September 18, 2025
The Mets have taken a 5-1 lead! pic.twitter.com/LejzOPDpZU
Two more strikeouts for Jonah Tong in the 5th 🔥 pic.twitter.com/XPMC8OAHgo
— SNY (@SNYtv) September 18, 2025
What's next
The Mets open a three-game series against the Nationals on Friday at 7:10 p.m. on SNY.
Brandon Sproat gets the start for New York, opposed by Andrew Alvarez for Washington.