Category: Baseball

They are the "Lose Busters" or "Gloom Dodgers."  Take your pick.

Call them what you will because there are plenty of optimistic loyalists out there who refuse to believe that the Blueshirts past of 2024-25 will be the Rangers future of 2025-26.

They refute super-realist-publisher of Blue Collar Blue Shirt, Sean McCaffrey, who claims that the "Isles and Devils will finish ahead of the Rangers."

Al Greenberg and George Grimm disagree. These optimists have been around since the Original Six era. They study the Rangers like Mr. Hagen Daz studies ice cream.

"In hockey," says two-book-author Greenberg, "things can change on a dime. Yesterday's hero is today's fall guy; and the other way around."

Exhibit A could – I said COULD – be Mika Zibanejad, last season's fall guy. He could be next season's hero.

"Chris Drury made some bold moves," Greenberg goes on, "and for that, I give him credit. Ditto for firing Lavvy and bringing in Sullivan. The Rangers desperately needed a new voice and a restoration of confidence.

"Let's hope Sullivan uses his personnel better than Laviolette. Will Cuylle is a budding star. Slava Gavrikov is a significant upgrade over K'Andre Miller. Scott Morrow has great potential based on his college career."

Promise For The Rangers Or Failure? Who Do You Want To Believe?Let's not kid ourselves, at this point of midsummer it's impossible how the Rangers will fare in the fall, winter or spring next season.

On a casual look, the Rangers appear – I said APPEAR – to have the necessary depth to compete.

Greenberg: "The keys might be how well Sullivan uses youngsters like Adam Edström, Matt Rempe, Gabe Perreault and Brennan Othmann. Granted that Jonny Brodzinski is

not a youngster but he has earned a regular spot."

The Maven and Big Al agree that Sully's real challenges will be restoring "The Core" to Presidents' Trophy form. Mighty Mika and Moneybags Lafreniere must be better. I don't worry about Breadman.

As for the onetime Vezina Trophy-winning Igor (I'm Getting More Dough Than Any Other Stopper) Shesterkin, he's on his own. (Make that Iggy and his goalie coach.) J.T. Miller and Vinny Trocheck are in the "Not To Worry" hustlers class.

"I believe that last season was an aberration," Greenberg concludes. "The team will be

much improved because the talent is there!"

George Grimm, who authored "We Did Everything But Win," also takes a hopeful tack and speaks for loyalists who date back to the 1950's.

"We've all gone through countless disappointing seasons and yet we're still here," Grimm proudly proclaims. "We still watch, cheer, groan and care. We're all still hoping for another 1994 Miracle.

"As down on the team as we all were last spring, there's a new season coming with a new coach and new hope. Hang in there, better days are coming!"

I believe George and Big Al. Sean McCaffrey certainly does not.

"Kenny Albert " says McCaffrey, "and Dave Maloney (the new MSG Networks broadcasters) will make a bad season bearable!"

S.O.S. "Gloom Dodgers." Hang in there!

Friday night ended with real fear in Yankeeland that Aaron Judge was lost for the season. If that had happened, the team could have seriously considered pivoting to selling at the trade deadline, league sources say.

Devin Williams and Cody Bellinger would be highly appealing to other clubs (attn: New York Mets), and the Yanks could have made like 2016 and taken a small step back to reload.

As it turned out, Judge did not need Tommy John surgery. He has a flexor strain and is expected to return in approximately ten days, sources say. He will DH at first but could play right field after a few games.

But even with Judge, it’s fair to wonder if it makes sense for Brian Cashman and his front office to sell future assets to boost a 2025 team that does not seem championship-caliber.

It’s also fair to wonder -- though we still have to classify this as an extreme longshot -- if another few days of sloppy baseball would make selling the rational choice. Rival executives have heard that the Yanks might become willing to talk about relievers on expiring contracts.

On the one hand, Fangraphs’ playoff odds on Sunday morning put the Yankees at 84.6 percent. Teams with odds like that don’t sell, especially in an era when anyone with a .500 record is a potential champion.

But if you watch the Yankees you know that the best argument for them seems to be that the rest of the American League is weak. The path to the World Series is not exactly cluttered with stiff competition.

It probably makes the most sense for Cashman to act as a soft buyer this week -- to make modest improvements to the current roster without giving up much.

That’s what he has done so far. Third baseman Ryan McMahon is under contract for two more years and infielder Amed Rosario is a bench piece. Neither of those trades tells the story of a front office that is aggressively all-in on the current season.

Perhaps more telling is the organization’s evolving stance on prospect Spencer Jones. Last week, the Yankees seemed relieved that Jones was hot in Triple-A, in part because it elevated his status from near-bust to appealing trade bait.

This weekend, they seem far less likely to trade Jones. Sure, Jones is playing his way back toward untouchable status. But one also wonders if another part of the calculation is the organization's awareness that this year’s Yankees aren't good enough to sacrifice a top prospect in a trade.

Aaron Boone simply does not have the bullpen pieces to contend for a championship. But if Cashman can get him two quality arms in addition to the returning Fernando Cruz, maybe the picture will brighten.

It’s always important to remember how dramatically a team’s outlook can change from one week or month to the next. A refurbished bullpen could put the Yankees right back in the division race.

But it’s also worth remembering that Cashman and his front office have seen many teams and seasons. They can sense when it’s worth pushing their chips to the middle of the table, and when a roster isn’t deserving of that approach.

Are these Yankees worth upgrading?

Watch the next few games carefully. Those could tell the story.

With the Baltimore Orioles out of contention in a crowded AL East, the expectation has been that the club would sell some of their veteran pieces ahead of the July 31 deadline, and that sell-off started this weekend with leftyGregory Soto going to theMets.

Soto, 30, is a two-time All-Star and was having a solid season for the O’s, pitching to a 3.96 ERA in 45 appearances. Perhaps most importantly to the Mets, though, is the fact that Soto has held opposing lefties to just a .138 batting average.

While Soto wasn’t active for Saturday night’s win over the Giants, he did speak to reporters in the visitor’s clubhouse, expressing his excitement to land with a contending club.

“I was excited. I wasn’t necessarily expecting it to happen,” Soto said, via a translator. “But when I was still with the Orioles when we faced [the Mets] over there, I was a little more motivated to kind of show them what I was capable of doing just so they could see what I was able to do so that they could trade for me.

“We all read the news and we knew the Mets were looking for a left-handed reliever, when we heard that news I was a little bit more motivated to show what I was capable of doing.”

In addition to his success against lefties, Soto also has experience when it comes to pitching in the postseason, as he pitched in the playoffs in each of the past two seasons (Philadelphia in 2023, Baltimore in 2024).

The hard-throwing lefty said that he admires what the Mets have been building, and he’s looking forward  to another chance at pitching in October.

“The way that they play the game, the culture that they have here, they have a lot of Latinos here as well,” said Soto. “This is a team that wants to win, and I want to win a championship, so that’s why I want to be here.”

Thomson tinkers Phillies' lineup for series finale vs. Yankees originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

NEW YORK — A little bit of a funky lineup thrown out by manager Rob Thomson for the series finale against the Yankees on Sunday. Funky not because of injuries, though that could have been in play. More like it just being a game number 105 lineup.

Trea Turner will be the designated hitter, while still leading off. Kyle Schwarber is going to be playing left field. Both Nick Castellanos and Edmundo Sosa are back after getting dinged through the weekend. Castellanos is back in right field after missing Saturday’s game due to a jammed knee that he tweaked on the last play Friday night. Sosa is at shortstop a day after leaving the game with a back contusion following a collision with Brandon Marsh. Otto Kemp is at third and Weston Wilson at second as the Phillies look for the sweep in Yankee Stadium.

“Give him a half day off,” Thomson said of Turner. “He’s been running around a lot, he’s been on base, doing all that stuff.”

In the first two games of the series, Turner went 6-for-11 with two doubles, a triple and five runs scored.

On Saturday, Thomson labeled Castellanos as day-to-day and some sprinting before the game determined he was ready to go. Though he left the game in the seventh inning in obvious pain on Saturday, Sosa said after the game that he was going to be ready to play, and he was. 

With Zack Wheeler on the mound Sunday, is it easier for the manager to tinker with the lineup a little bit?

“I guess it could be but I don’t think of it that way,” Thomson said. “I just try to give guys rest when we can, like in Turner’s case today give him a half day, but it’s also about the matchup with the opposing pitcher.

“We have a lot of versatility with a club with Sosa and Kemp and Wilson. It’s good to have.”

Hall of Fame Day

The baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremonies in Cooperstown Sunday welcome a class that includes Dick Allen, Daver Parker, CC Sabathia, Ichiro Suzuki and Billy Wagner.  During his time with the Yankees as a coach, Thomson remembers going against former Phillie Wagner and having Sabathia and Suzuki as players in New York:

“It’s a big day, you know. It’s quite an accomplishment. At the time we had him, CC was one of the best pitchers in baseball.  He’s like Wheeler, you hand him the ball and figure you’re getting seven (innings). You’re a little bit surprised when you don’t. When we got Ichiro we had talked to him before the trade and said ‘We’re probably going to platoon you and play against right-handed pitching and probably hit down in the order.’ Within a week he was playing every day and hitting at the top of the order. He’s just a great player and a great guy, too. And very funny.”

Sabathia spent 11 of his 19 years with the Yankees and won 134 games with them while compiling a 3.81 ERA. Ichiro joined the Yankees at 38 years old and played three seasons. He hit .322 his first season with them.

No waggle here

Sometimes just the slightest of adjustments in sports can make a world of difference. For Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott, less waggle seems to mean better contact.

The Phillies coaching staff noticed that Stott was moving his hands and bat, waggling, if you will, before the pitcher was throwing the ball and it wasn’t allowing his bat to square up to the ball most times. So hitting coach Kevin Long and others made the suggestion that Stott rest the bat on his shoulder until the pitcher is ready to throw. Then it’s time for lock and load.

“I think he’s had good at-bats,” Thomson said. “Like I’ve been saying, it feels like he knows where the barrel is now. He’s using the field and he’s also getting the head out when he needs to, so it’s good. I think he’s had it (the waggle) for a while but now it was sort of getting in the way of the process so we just tried to calm it down a little bit. So far so good.” 

Why rival exec states Giants should be ‘aggressive buyers' at MLB trade deadline originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

With the 2025 MLB trade deadline right around the corner, the Giants have some decisions to make as they chase a playoff berth.

San Francisco sits seven games behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West but just two games out of a wild-card spot — the latter of which could inspire president of baseball operations Buster Posey to make some big moves in the lead-up to July 31.

One rival executive recently shared their outlook on the Giants’ situation with The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, who relayed the message in a piece published Saturday.

“And finally, one rival executive proclaimed the Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants should be aggressive buyers, saying it’s ‘open season’ on the third NL wild card because of the San Diego Padres’ uncertain hold on the position,” Rosenthal wrote.

The Reds are a half-game up on the Giants in the race for the third and final NL wild-card spot, which the Padres currently cling to amid a four-game skid. The exec told Rosenthal that San Diego isn’t poised to make much noise at the deadline, either, as Padres GM A.J. Preller “doesn’t really have the money or the farm system for big additions.”

The Giants have a prime opportunity to sneak into the postseason but certainly could use rotation help, especially after optioning Hayden Birdsong to Triple-A Sacramento and placing Landen Roupp on the IL with an elbow injury. While Rosenthal noted the Giants “plan to buy” and are seeking a starting pitcher, the MLB insider also stated the team hopes to trade for a second baseman.

There are only a few days until the deadline, so Giants fans don’t have long to wait for Posey and Co. to make a move. But it’s clear those around MLB don’t anticipate a fire sale in San Francisco any time soon.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

The Mets (61-44) look to complete a three-game sweep of the San Francisco Giants (54-51) on Sunday at 7:10 p.m. on ESPN.

Here's what to know about the game and how to watch...

---

Mets Notes

• In two starts since returning from the IL, Senga has allowed four earned runs over 7.0 innings of work, with all four of those runs coming in his last start against the Angels
• Mark Vientos is currently on a six-game hitting streak, which includes two doubles and three runs batted in
• While his defense was stellar in Saturday's win, Pete Alonso has been scuffling at the plate of late, slashing just .135/.230/.269 with 16 strikeouts over his last 15 games

---

---

Here's what happened in Mets Land on Saturday, in case you missed it...

---

• Despite early-inning struggles with runners on, the Mets received an outstanding pitching effort from David Peterson and the bullpen in a 2-1 win over the Giants, the team's sixth straight victory
• Pete Alonso flashed some serious leather in the win, while Mark Vientos came up with a timely hit when it mattered most
• Tylor Megill is set to throw another bullpen session on Sunday
• Manager Carlos Mendoza discussed Vientos' resurgence, as the third baseman is now on a six-game hitting streak

Yankees captain Aaron Judge placed on injured list with flexor strain originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Yankees captain Aaron Judge, his teammates and New York’s fan base exhaled Saturday when the two-time AL MVP learned he has a flexor strain in his right elbow but no acute damage to his ulnar collateral ligament that might cause a long-term layoff.

Judge was sent for an MRI on Saturday and missed just his second game this season, a 9-4 loss to Philadelphia. He had a platelet-rich plasma injection and will go on the injured list but hopes to return to action in 10 days to two weeks, initially as a designated hitter.

“You never want to go in the tube. It’s never fun. You don’t know what’s going to show up,” Judge said. “That’s why I kind of pushed off a lot of that imaging and stuff like that because if I don’t know what’s going on, it can’t hurt you, I guess.”

Judge leads the major leagues with a .342 batting average and 1.160 OPS. He has 37 home runs and 85 RBIs for a New York team that opened a seven-game AL East lead by late May but dropped a season-high 6 1/2 games back of first-place Toronto on Saturday.

“All in all, we got good news today,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “I think all of us kind of feared the worst.”

Knowing how tough Judge is, Boone had been worried. Judge told Boone of throwing difficulty during Friday’s 12-5 loss to Philadelphia.

“I couldn’t throw past 60 feet,” Judge said. “We’re going up against a Phillies team, they can hit the ball over the park. I just didn’t want to put our pitchers in jeopardy, just not be able to come up and make a play for them.”

Boone received results of the scan just before the start of Saturday’s game, when team officials were getting some more evaluation. Because pain impacted his throwing but not hitting, Judge fought going on the IL.

“With that strain, then if you go out there and play with it you put the UCL in jeopardy, so we got to get that healed up,” Boone said.

Boone said it was too soon to determine whether highly regarded prospect Spencer Jones will be brought up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Judge likely won’t throw for 10 to 14 days, then will need a few days throwing to build back arm strength before returning to the outfield.

“I really was reluctant about going on any IL or anything like that,” Judge said. “I was like, ‘If I can hit, let me hit.’” he said. “I’ll start DHing, I think, once this 10th day is up.”

Giancarlo Stanton, the team’s primary DH, will start to work out in the outfield next week in order to help fill in for Judge.

“It’s never a relief knowing he’s going to be out at all, but for what it is, I guess you could say best case,” Stanton said.

Judge said he first felt the pain in the sixth inning of Tuesday’s game at Toronto, when George Springer singled to right in the sixth inning off Jonathan Loáisiga. Judge made a strong throw home in an attempt to prevent the tying run, but Davis Schneider just beat catcher Austin Wells’ tag.

An inning later, Judge winced after catching Alejandro Kirk’s seventh-inning fly in the right-field corner and throwing to second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. as Bo Bichette tagged up and went from second to third. Judge was caught by a YES Network camera clenching his right hand in a fist.

“He’s about as tough as they come and for him to even show any vulnerability or pain or whatever,” Boone said. “I knew we had an issue probably. And so any time you can fear the worst with that, but that’s why you wait to react, though. … We got the MRI and got a clear diagnosis with it.”

Yankees captain Aaron Judge placed on injured list with flexor strain originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Yankees captain Aaron Judge, his teammates and New York’s fan base exhaled Saturday when the two-time AL MVP learned he has a flexor strain in his right elbow but no acute damage to his ulnar collateral ligament that might cause a long-term layoff.

Judge was sent for an MRI on Saturday and missed just his second game this season, a 9-4 loss to Philadelphia. He had a platelet-rich plasma injection and will go on the injured list but hopes to return to action in 10 days to two weeks, initially as a designated hitter.

“You never want to go in the tube. It’s never fun. You don’t know what’s going to show up,” Judge said. “That’s why I kind of pushed off a lot of that imaging and stuff like that because if I don’t know what’s going on, it can’t hurt you, I guess.”

Judge leads the major leagues with a .342 batting average and 1.160 OPS. He has 37 home runs and 85 RBIs for a New York team that opened a seven-game AL East lead by late May but dropped a season-high 6 1/2 games back of first-place Toronto on Saturday.

“All in all, we got good news today,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “I think all of us kind of feared the worst.”

Knowing how tough Judge is, Boone had been worried. Judge told Boone of throwing difficulty during Friday’s 12-5 loss to Philadelphia.

“I couldn’t throw past 60 feet,” Judge said. “We’re going up against a Phillies team, they can hit the ball over the park. I just didn’t want to put our pitchers in jeopardy, just not be able to come up and make a play for them.”

Boone received results of the scan just before the start of Saturday’s game, when team officials were getting some more evaluation. Because pain impacted his throwing but not hitting, Judge fought going on the IL.

“With that strain, then if you go out there and play with it you put the UCL in jeopardy, so we got to get that healed up,” Boone said.

Boone said it was too soon to determine whether highly regarded prospect Spencer Jones will be brought up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Judge likely won’t throw for 10 to 14 days, then will need a few days throwing to build back arm strength before returning to the outfield.

“I really was reluctant about going on any IL or anything like that,” Judge said. “I was like, ‘If I can hit, let me hit.’” he said. “I’ll start DHing, I think, once this 10th day is up.”

Giancarlo Stanton, the team’s primary DH, will start to work out in the outfield next week in order to help fill in for Judge.

“It’s never a relief knowing he’s going to be out at all, but for what it is, I guess you could say best case,” Stanton said.

Judge said he first felt the pain in the sixth inning of Tuesday’s game at Toronto, when George Springer singled to right in the sixth inning off Jonathan Loáisiga. Judge made a strong throw home in an attempt to prevent the tying run, but Davis Schneider just beat catcher Austin Wells’ tag.

An inning later, Judge winced after catching Alejandro Kirk’s seventh-inning fly in the right-field corner and throwing to second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. as Bo Bichette tagged up and went from second to third. Judge was caught by a YES Network camera clenching his right hand in a fist.

“He’s about as tough as they come and for him to even show any vulnerability or pain or whatever,” Boone said. “I knew we had an issue probably. And so any time you can fear the worst with that, but that’s why you wait to react, though. … We got the MRI and got a clear diagnosis with it.”

Yankees captain Aaron Judge placed on injured list with flexor strain originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Yankees captain Aaron Judge, his teammates and New York’s fan base exhaled Saturday when the two-time AL MVP learned he has a flexor strain in his right elbow but no acute damage to his ulnar collateral ligament that might cause a long-term layoff.

Judge was sent for an MRI on Saturday and missed just his second game this season, a 9-4 loss to Philadelphia. He had a platelet-rich plasma injection and will go on the injured list but hopes to return to action in 10 days to two weeks, initially as a designated hitter.

“You never want to go in the tube. It’s never fun. You don’t know what’s going to show up,” Judge said. “That’s why I kind of pushed off a lot of that imaging and stuff like that because if I don’t know what’s going on, it can’t hurt you, I guess.”

Judge leads the major leagues with a .342 batting average and 1.160 OPS. He has 37 home runs and 85 RBIs for a New York team that opened a seven-game AL East lead by late May but dropped a season-high 6 1/2 games back of first-place Toronto on Saturday.

“All in all, we got good news today,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “I think all of us kind of feared the worst.”

Knowing how tough Judge is, Boone had been worried. Judge told Boone of throwing difficulty during Friday’s 12-5 loss to Philadelphia.

“I couldn’t throw past 60 feet,” Judge said. “We’re going up against a Phillies team, they can hit the ball over the park. I just didn’t want to put our pitchers in jeopardy, just not be able to come up and make a play for them.”

Boone received results of the scan just before the start of Saturday’s game, when team officials were getting some more evaluation. Because pain impacted his throwing but not hitting, Judge fought going on the IL.

“With that strain, then if you go out there and play with it you put the UCL in jeopardy, so we got to get that healed up,” Boone said.

Boone said it was too soon to determine whether highly regarded prospect Spencer Jones will be brought up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Judge likely won’t throw for 10 to 14 days, then will need a few days throwing to build back arm strength before returning to the outfield.

“I really was reluctant about going on any IL or anything like that,” Judge said. “I was like, ‘If I can hit, let me hit.’” he said. “I’ll start DHing, I think, once this 10th day is up.”

Giancarlo Stanton, the team’s primary DH, will start to work out in the outfield next week in order to help fill in for Judge.

“It’s never a relief knowing he’s going to be out at all, but for what it is, I guess you could say best case,” Stanton said.

Judge said he first felt the pain in the sixth inning of Tuesday’s game at Toronto, when George Springer singled to right in the sixth inning off Jonathan Loáisiga. Judge made a strong throw home in an attempt to prevent the tying run, but Davis Schneider just beat catcher Austin Wells’ tag.

An inning later, Judge winced after catching Alejandro Kirk’s seventh-inning fly in the right-field corner and throwing to second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. as Bo Bichette tagged up and went from second to third. Judge was caught by a YES Network camera clenching his right hand in a fist.

“He’s about as tough as they come and for him to even show any vulnerability or pain or whatever,” Boone said. “I knew we had an issue probably. And so any time you can fear the worst with that, but that’s why you wait to react, though. … We got the MRI and got a clear diagnosis with it.”

WhilePete Alonso has made a name for himself with his hitting and is just five home runs shy of breaking Darryl Strawberry's Mets franchise record, it's been his defense that's helping New York win games as of late.

Alonso dazzled in Saturday night's 2-1 win over the San Francisco Giants, making a couple of nice picks at first base and ending the game on an incredible leaping catch. His defensive performance earned praise from manager Carlos Mendoza, who made sure the first baseman was going to get the credit he deserves.

“Unbelievable. He doesn’t get enough credit because of his defense, but he’s elite,” Mendoza said. “Especially when we’re talking about receiving throws, using the whole bag, the footwork, just the target, and making plays that he can get to.

“We saw it again today. Hell of a pick on a [Francisco] Lindor play, that play to end the game right that, another throw where he had to come off the base. There’s a lot of positive from him defensively. I’ve been saying it all along. He doesn’t get enough credit.”

Starting pitcher David Peterson, who allowed just one run over six strong innings of work, also thanked Alonso for helping him get out of a couple jams. The left-hander added that it wasn't just Saturday's win where Alonso's defense came up big, but is instead something that's been going on all season long.

"He's been doing it all year,” Peterson said. "He had a couple really good ones today. He works his butt off before the games trying to get better. He's been really solid for us.

"To have a guy over there like that that you can trust and know that if you’re in a pinch and you need to get it out, he’s over there and he’s going to do his best to stay on or get the out however he can. It’s a comforting feeling knowing, especially for me trying to get the ball on the ground. It’s been awesome.”

When asked about comparing his jumping catch vs. a big home run, Alonso said he was simply happy to help the team win their sixth straight game.

"It's awesome to be able to end the game right there, it was big time,” Alonso said. “I know that our pitchers did an absolutely phenomenal job, but really happy I was able to contribute there."

He added: “I always want the ball hit to me. Just anticipating the ball. I was really happy to do it right there.”

Overall, Alonso is proud of the strides he's made with his glove.

“Defensively, I feel like I’ve improved as the season’s went on and I feel like I’m in a really good spot right now,” Alonso said.

Mark Vientos showing 'ability to turn the page'

New York couldn't get anything going offensively through the first five innings of Saturday's game. They left runners on base in two big spots, including a bases-loaded and no-out situation in the fourth inning as Mark Vientos struck out and Francisco Alvarez grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Vientos and the Mets got another scoring opportunity in the sixth inning, and this time they weren't going to waste it away. The third baseman drove in two runs on a double to give NY a 2-1 lead, which they'd hold on to for the win.

After the game, Mendoza said what he's seen recently from the 25-year-old has been "a really good sign" going forward.

“I think the biggest thing for me was, after he didn’t get the job done with the bases loaded there, he doesn’t get down and he gets another opportunity right there and comes through, Mendoza said. “So that’s a really good sign, especially when it’s been hard for you and that’s the case for Mark.

"So not missing pitches, even though he missed on the first at-bat with the bases loaded, the one he fouled off, but doing a better job of controlling the strike zone and finding holes. You need a hit like that the one tonight, ended up being the biggest hit of the night. I think his ability to turn the page was good to see tonight.”

Vientos extended his hitting streak to six games with the double and was happy to "come through" in the big moment.

"Felt really good, felt really good to get that second chance and come through for the boys,” Vientos said. “Got a good pitch to hit and put a good swing on it.”

Vientos added that he's been focusing on the little things while at the plate and the results are now showing.

“Yeah I feel a lot better,” Vientos said. “The things that I’m focused on are a lot better at the plate. It’s helping me get better results for sure.”

“Sticking to my approach. Doubling down on it. When I get my pitch, not missing it.”

The Mets offense was quiet through the first five innings on Saturday night, but scored two runs in the sixth, and held on to beat the San Francisco Giants, 2-1.

New York (61-44) extended their winning streak to six games and remain 0.5 games ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies, who beat the Yankees again earlier in the day, for first place in the NL East.

Here are the takeaways...

-- David Peterson got some help from 3B Mark Vientos and 2B Brett Baty to avoid early damage, as Vientos snagged Matt Chapman's line drive and tossed it to Baty, who scooped the low and hard throw to complete the inning-ending double play. Peterson found himself in another situation with runners on first and second base with just one out in the second inning, but escaped thanks to a 4-6-3 double play.

It was then Pete Alonso's turn to help Peterson out in the third inning -- getting a tag on a wide throw for the first out and scooping a Francisco Lindor throw for the third out of the frame.

-- Peterson's luck ended in the fourth, loading the bases and allowing a run to cross on a force out, giving the Giants a 1-0 lead. But the left-hander bounced back to get out of another jam in the fifth inning, keeping it a one-run game. He then found a way to get through the sixth inning, matching his career high of 121 IP on the season.

Peterson's final line: one earned run on eight hits (all singles) with four strikeouts and three walks over 91 pitches across the six innings. The outing lowered his season ERA to 2.38.

-- Francisco Alvarez tripled with two outs in the second, crushing a ball off the wall in right field that was misplayed by Luis Matos. However, the Mets couldn't capitalize as Robbie Ray struck out Tyrone Taylor for the third out.

Alonso hit a leadoff single in the fourth inning and advanced to third on Starling Marte's double down the line to left field, giving New York another scoring chance. Baty then reached first on a dribbler back to Ray, who was watching Alonso at third, loading the bases. But once again, the Mets failed to score as Vientos struck out and Alvarez grounded into a 5-3 double play.

-- Juan Soto walked and stole his career-high 14th base with one out in the top of the sixth inning, New York's 26th straight successful stolen base (the longest active streak in the majors and three shy of the Brewers' record 29). Marte walked and then Rafael Devers struggles at first base continued, bobbling a grounder and only getting the force out at first base. Vientos came through with a two-run double to flip the game around and put the Mets up 2-1, knocking Ray out of the game.

New York had a chance to add more to their lead after Alvarez and Taylor walked, but Brandon Nimmo struck out looking to end the top half of the inning.

-- Reed Garrett tossed a 1-2-3 seventh inning in relief of Peterson. Ryne Stanek then breezed through the eighth with a 1-2-3 inning of his own. Edwin Diaz nearly let up a game-tying homer to Jung Hoo Lee in the ninth, but the ball hit off the wall in right-center field for a double. The closer settled down to strike out Mike Yastrzemski and Alonso made a game-saving, jumping catch on Patrick Bailey's line drive to end the game.

Game MVP: David Peterson

Peterson got out of multiple jams and allowed just one run on the night. It's the 13th time in 20 starts this season that he's thrown at least six innings.

Honorable mention: Alonso, for his stellar defense throughout the game.

Highlights

Francisco Lindor's spinning throw to Pete Alonso ends the inning! 🌪️ pic.twitter.com/4P9ZhJcSZ2

— SNY (@SNYtv) July 27, 2025

Mark Vientos gives the Mets the lead with a 2-RBI double! pic.twitter.com/fIiLhc9Yau

— SNY (@SNYtv) July 27, 2025

"Caught by Alonso and the ballgame is over!"

Pete Alonso LEAPS for the grab and the final out 👏 pic.twitter.com/tnW0TYsC4u

— SNY (@SNYtv) July 27, 2025

What's next

The Mets and Giants wrap up their three-game series on Sunday night. First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. on ESPN.

Kodai Senga (7-3, 1.79 ERA) will take the mound while the Giants have yet to decide on a starter.

The Yankees acquired another infielder ahead of the trade deadline.

The Yankees and Nationals have agreed on a trade that will send Amed Rosario to the Bronx in exchange for RHP Clayton Beeter and outfielder Browm Martinez.

Rosario, 29, gives the Yankees the right-handed utility man they have been looking for after trading for Ryan McMahon on Friday. Rosario has been solid for the Nationals in limited playing time. Across 47 games, Rosario is slashing .270/.310/.399 with a .707 OPS to go with his five home runs and 18 RBI. He's played primarily at third base this season but has seen time at second, shortstop and even in the outfield.

Over his nine seasons, Rosario has played for the Mets, Guardians, Dodgers, Rays, Reds and Nationals.

The acquisition is a smart one for GM Brian Cashman and the Yankees. He gives the Yankees more flexibility in the infield and potentially the outfield with Aaron Judge heading to the IL. His addition could mean Oswald Peraza's time with the Yankees could be at an end. The young infielder is out of minor league options.

Peraza, 25, has not taken advantage of his increased time with the club this year. While he was very good defensively this year, in 70 games he only slashed .152/.212/.241 with three home runs and 13 RBI. His OPS was just .453.

Beeter, 26, was the key piece when the Yankees dealt Joey Gallo to the Dodgers back in 2022 and was ranked as New York's No. 20 prospect according to MLB Pipeline. He's made five major league appearances the last two seasons but has allowed eight runs across 7.1 innings with the Yankees. This season, Better has pitched to a 3.10 ERA while striking out 33 batters across 20.1 innings pitched in 18 appearances with Triple-A.

Martinez has spent the last two years in the Dominican Summer League. This year, in 18 games, he's slashed .404/.507/.632 with three home runs and 16 RBI to go along with a 1.139 OPS.