David Peterson bounces back in huge way to lead Mets to series win over Brewers
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets. Try it free
A good start can do a lot.
It can provide cover for holes in the bullpen.
It can serve as camouflage for an offense that is not hitting on all cylinders.
The Mets had not had one of those good starts since David Peterson was pitching like the Peterson who was making a strong case for an All-Star Game nod in the first 2 ¹/₂ months of the season.
On Thursday, that Peterson reappeared and reminded that the biggest difference between the sailing Mets and the free-falling Mets has been a rotation that had fallen apart over the past few weeks.
4 David Peterson, who allowed two runs in 6²/₃ innings, throws a pitch during the Mets' win over the Brewers on July 3, 2025.
Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
After two consecutive duds, Peterson was once again excellent and lengthy in guiding the Mets to a series-clinching and well-played 3-2 victory over the Brewers in front of a loud, sellout crowd of 42,241 at Citi Field.
CHECK OUT THE LATEST MLB STANDINGS AND METS STATS
The Mets (50-38) finally won a series — their first since sweeping the Nationals way back from June 10-12 — and pulled out just a fifth game in their past 19, building momentum for the Queens portion of the Subway Series that begins Friday.
4 Pete Alonso celebrates after hitting the go-ahead double in the sixth inning of the Mets' win over the
Brewers on July 3, 2025.
Robert Sabo for New York Post
Among the many issues facing the Mets, the largest has been a rotation that has been battered both by injuries and opposing batters.
Before Peterson battled for 6 ²/₃ innings Thursday, manager Carlos Mendoza had not seen his starting pitcher survive six innings since … Peterson went seven innings in Atlanta on June 17.
From June 18 through Wednesday, the Mets' rotation posted a 5.96 ERA that was the third-worst in MLB while tallying 54 ¹/₃ innings, the third-least.
Included in that stretch were two Peterson starts, one in Philadelphia and one in Pittsburgh, in which he allowed 10 runs in 8 ²/₃ innings.
4 Juan Soto rips an RBI single during the sixth inning of the Mets' win over the Brewers.
Robert Sabo for New York Post
'On Petey I'm not concerned. This is a very good major league starter,' David Stearns said of Peterson, whose slump is over after allowing two runs (one earned) while scattering five hits, walking three, striking out four and inducing ground balls at will against a solid Milwaukee offense.
The big bats in the Mets' offense did enough to ensure his work mattered.
Delivering insights on all things Amazin's
Sign up for Inside the Mets by Mike Puma, exclusively on Sports+
Thank you
Enter your email address
Please provide a valid email address.
By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter!
Check out more newsletters
Brandon Nimmo lasered a homer for a second straight day to seize a lead in the second inning, an edge that would disappear on an unearned run in the fourth.
Rhys Hoskins lined directly to second baseman Brett Baty, who went to his knees and watched the ball graze off his glove for an error. With two outs and runners on the corners, Caleb Durbin hit a slow roller that just got by Peterson, and Mark Vientos' throw was too late on an infield single that tied the game.
4 Brandon Nimmo belts a solo homer in the second inning of the Mets' win over the Brewers.
Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
But the Mets went ahead to stay with a two-run sixth, when the top of the order — new-look leadoff hitter Starling Marte, Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto and Pete Alonso — stitched together four straight hits, Soto's single and Alonso's double off the wall in left-center driving in the runs.
Peterson allowed a second run in the seventh, when Andruw Monasterio turned on a four-seamer that was not far enough inside for a home run.
But Ryne Stanek (1 ⅓ dominant innings with three strikeouts) and Edwin Díaz (18th save, with some help from a perfect throw to second from Luis Torrens and a perfect tag from Lindor that caught Christian Yelich stealing) ensured the Brewers got no closer.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
McNeil's clutch homer lifts Mets over Yankees in Subway Series opener
New York Mets' Jeff McNeil (1) celebrates with Brett Baty (7) after scoring on his two-run home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Friday, July 4, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis) NEW YORK (AP) — Jeff McNeil hit a go-ahead, two-run homer off Luke Weaver in the seventh inning, leading the New York Mets over the Yankees 6-5 on Friday in a Subway Series opener between teams that faded badly after strong starts. Juan Soto hit a two-run homer among three hits against his former team and Brett Baty connected for a solo shot in the sixth off Ian Hamilton that cut the Yankees' lead to 5-4. Advertisement Weaver (1-3) relieved with two outs in the seventh and walked Pete Alonso. McNeil drove a changeup into the right-field upper deck at Citi Field, sending the Yankees to their fifth straight loss during a slide that dropped them from the AL East lead. Jasson Domínguez ended a 32-game homerless streak, hitting a pair of opposite-field homers and driving in three runs. Domínguez and Judge hit back-to-back homers starting the game, Judge's 32nd this year, and Cody Bellinger also went deep for the Yankees. Huascar Brazobán (4-2) pitched a hitless seventh and Reed Garrett got six outs for his third save, helped by an outstanding defensive play from McNeil at second base in the ninth. RED SOX 11, NATIONALS 2 Advertisement WASHINGTON (AP) — Trevor Story homered and drove in four runs as part of a four-hit day, Lucas Giolito pitched 7 2/3 innings of one-run ball in his first game against the team that drafted him and Boston routed Washington. Jarren Duran had three RBIs for Boston, which collected 16 hits and has won four of six since enduring a season-worst six-game skid. Washington was denied its first three-game winning streak since taking four in a row on May 28-31. Giolito (5-1) allowed four hits and three walks while striking out seven, surrendering Luis García Jr.'s sacrifice fly in the sixth. He is 2-0 with an 0.61 ERA in his last two starts. Advertisement REDS 9, PHILLIES 6 PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Spencer Steer hit a two-RBI double to spark a five-run third inning and Reds reliever Tony Santillan struck out Alec Bohm with the bases loaded to end the eighth and lead Cincinnati past Philadelphia. Phillies starter Jesús Luzardo lasted only two-plus innings and Reds starter Andrew Abbott — both pitchers entered with seven wins — couldn't get out of the fourth. The Reds or Phillies scored at least one run in each of the first six innings and the defending NL East champion Phillies finished with 14 hits. The Reds had 11. Nick Castellanos hit a two-run homer in the first inning to help stake Luzardo (7-5) to a 3-0 lead. Advertisement Luzardo pitched like an All-Star deep into May with an ERA hovering under 2.00 through his first 10 starts. He has been rocked in most of his outings since. He allowed a run in the second inning and gave up two run-scoring singles, a sacrifice fly and Steer's double in the third that made it 6-3. Elly De La Cruz added an RBI single in the fourth and the Reds tacked on two more runs in the fifth for a 9-4 lead. CUBS 11, CARDINALS 3 CHICAGO (AP) — Michael Busch hit three home runs, Pete Crow-Armstrong connected twice and Chicago went deep a franchise-record eight times in pounding St. Louis for its fourth straight victory. Advertisement Busch finished 4 for 4 with five RBIs. Crow-Armstrong also went 4 for 4 and Dansby Swanson launched a two-run homer during a Cubs power barrage that had the crowd of 40,038 at Wrigley Field roaring. Seiya Suzuki and Carson Kelly added solo shots as the NL Central leaders hit six homers in the first three innings off Miles Mikolas (4-6), a record for most home runs off a Cardinals pitcher in one game. The eight longballs allowed by St. Louis also broke a club mark. Brendan Donovan led off the fourth with a home run against Colin Rea, ending a 31-inning scoreless streak for the Cardinals. St. Louis, which dropped its fourth straight, was shut out in its three previous losses. That was the only hit Rea (6-3) allowed in 6 2/3 innings, matching his longest outing this season. Advertisement Mikolas (4-6) was tagged for eight runs and 10 hits over six innings in losing his fourth in a row. MARINERS 6, PIRATES 0 SEATTLE (AP) — Cal Raleigh hit his 34th and 35th home runs to set a career high and match Ken Griffey Jr.'s Seattle record for homers before the All-Star break, helping the Mariners beat Pittsburgh. The major league leader turned on a fastball from Bailey Falter (6-4) in the first inning and walloped it well past the wall in left. The exit velocity on the two-run shot was logged at 115.2 mph, per Statcast — the hardest-hit ball of his career. Raleigh topped his previous career high — set last season — in the sixth with a solo shot that chased Falter. The Mariners only mustered one other hit off the left-hander, but it was also a home run courtesy of Randy Arozarena in the fourth inning. Advertisement Mariners starter Bryan Woo (8-4) went six innings. TWINS 4, RAYS 3 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Harrison Bader hit his second home run of the game in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Minnesota a victory over Tampa Bay. Bader, the No. 9 batter, lined the first pitch he saw from Kevin Kelly (0-1) into the first row of left-field seats to complete a three-run Minnesota comeback. It was the third career walk-off RBI for Bader, first on a home run. Louis Varland (3-3) pitched two scoreless innings for the win. Trailing 3-1 in the seventh, Minnesota got a two-out RBI double from Byron Buxton before Rays reliever Garrett Cleavinger hit Willi Castro and Brooks Lee with pitches, tying the game. Carlos Correa struck out with the bases loaded. Advertisement Twins starter Chris Paddack allowed two earned runs and five hits in five-plus innings. Josh Lowe singled against Paddack leading off the sixth and scored on Yandy Díaz's double. Junior Caminero drove in Díaz with a single off Danny Coulombe for a 2-1 Rays lead. Lowe added an RBI single in the seventh. Zack Littell pitched six solid innings for Tampa Bay, allowing one earned run for the third straight start. He scattered four hits and struck out five. ORIOLES 3, BRAVES 2 ATLANTA (AP) — Jordan Westburg had three hits, including a homer, Cedric Mullins added a two-run shot and Charlie Morton allowed two runs in his return to Atlanta to lead Baltimore to a win. Advertisement Morton (5-7) improved to 5-0 in 10 appearances, including seven starts, since May 10. Morton, who pitched for the Braves for four years before signing a one-year deal with the Orioles, threw five scoreless innings before giving up a two-run homer to Drake Baldwin in the sixth. Westburg returned to the lineup after aggravating his left index finger on Friday and made an immediate impact. After reaching on an infield single in the first inning, Westburg snapped a scoreless tie in the third with an opposite-field homer to right field, his eighth, off Spencer Strider (3-7). Tyler O'Neill had a single and a walk in his return from Baltimore's injured list. O'Neill had been out since May 16 with a left shoulder impingement. TIGERS 2, GUARDIANS 1 Advertisement CLEVELAND (AP) — Wenceel Pérez and Zach McKinstry homered as Detroit extended Cleveland's losing streak to eight games. José Ramírez went deep for the Guardians, who are on their longest skid since dropping nine straight in 2021. Tyler Holton (4-3) pitched 2 2/3 innings of one-hit ball to earn the win. Will Vest went 1 1/3 innings for his 14th save in 17 opportunities. Steven Kwan gave the Guardians some hope in the ninth with a two-out double down the left-field line, but Kyle Manzardo hit a grounder to Vest for the final out. Detroit's Reese Olson made his first start since May 17 and allowed only one run on six hits in 4 1/3 innings. The right-hander was out nearly seven weeks due to right ring finger inflammation. Advertisement Pérez tied it at 1 in the third inning with a drive to center field off Cleveland starter Slade Cecconi (3-4). McKinstry then led off the fourth by connecting on a curve ball over the wall in right-center for his second go-ahead homer of the season. Ramírez snapped an 0-for-21 drought when he put a 94.8 mph fastball from Olson into the right field stands for his 14th homer of the season. It was also the first time he had gone deep since June 14 at Seattle. Cecconi went six innings and threw a career-high 105 pitches. He gave up six hits and struck out five. PADRES 3, RANGERS 2, 10 INNINGS SAN DIEGO (AP) — Jake Cronenworth singled to right field with the bases loaded and two outs in the 10th inning to give San Diego a win over Texas. Advertisement Cronenworth's single off Robert Garcia (1-4) brought in automatic runner Jackson Merrill. Cronenworth raised his right index finger as he rounded first base and was mobbed by teammates near second after his fifth career walk-off hit. Manny Machado was intentionally walked to open the inning and Luis Arraez struck out. Gavin Sheets singled to center to load the bases. Xander Bogaerts injured himself swinging at the first pitch of his at-bat, was checked by an athletic trainer and left the game. Bryce Johnson replaced him and struck out. The Rangers went to extra innings for the sixth time in nine games, losing four of them. BREWERS 6, MARLINS 5 Advertisement MIAMI (AP) — Christian Yelich scored the go-ahead run all the way from first on a double by Jackson Chourio in the eighth inning and Milwaukee beat Miami. Yelich singled leading off the eighth against Cade Gibson (2-4) and Chourio followed with his hit to help the Brewers win for the 10th time in 14 games. Aaron Ashby (1-0) retired all seven batters he faced for the win. Trevor Megill gave up a two-out single to Xavier Edwards before issuing a nine-pitch walk to Jesús Sánchez, but he struck out Otto Lopez swinging for his 19th save in 22 opportunities. BLUE JAYS 4, ANGELS 3, 10 INNINGS TORONTO (AP) — Myles Straw scored the winning run on a throwing error by pitcher Sam Bachman in the 10th inning, and Toronto extended its winning streak to six games by beating Los Angeles. Advertisement Straw, the automatic runner, scored from second when Bachman fielded Ernie Clement's sacrifice bunt and overthrew first base. Bachman (1-2) entered in the 10th and walked leadoff hitter Nathan Lukes, putting runners on first and second with nobody out for Clement. Chad Green (3-2) worked a scoreless inning for the win. Jo Adell tied it for the Angels with a three-run homer in the seventh. WHITE SOX 3, ROCKIES 2 DENVER (AP) — Adrian Houser allowed two hits in eight innings and rookie catcher Edgar Quero hit his first major league home run — a tiebreaking solo shot in the sixth that sent Chicago past Colorado. Advertisement Rookie reliever Grant Taylor gave up a two-out single to Mickey Moniak in the ninth before striking out Ryan McMahon for his third save. In a matchup between the two worst teams in the majors, Houser (4-2) permitted two unearned runs on four hits and two walks. He hasn't yielded more than three runs in any of his eight starts this season. The veteran right-hander was coming off seven sharp innings in a 1-0 win over the Giants that Taylor also saved. Andrew Benintendi and Miguel Vargas opened the fourth with singles against Antonio Senzatela (3-12), and Quero walked to load the bases. Michael A. Taylor's two-out single gave Chicago a 2-0 lead. Michael Toglia doubled in the fifth and scored on a throwing error by third baseman Josh Rojas. Tyler Freeman doubled to tie it at 2. Quero gave Chicago the lead with a 401-foot drive to right field — before getting the silent treatment from his teammates when he returned to the dugout.
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Heroes, zeros from Mets' Subway Series win: Jeff McNeil came through on both sides of the ball
Heroes, zeros and the inside pitch from the Mets' 6-5 win over the Yankees on Friday afternoon in the Subway Series in Queens: Hero Jeff McNeil smoked a two-run homer off Luke Weaver with two outs in the bottom of the seventh that gave the Mets the lead for good. The versatile McNeil, playing second base, also made a terrific diving play on DJ LeMahieu's soft liner that seemed on its way to right field for a single with one out in the top of the ninth. Advertisement Jeff McNeil put the Mets up in the seventh inning of the team's July 4 win over the Yankees. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post Zero Weaver, so good last year and the early part of this season until being sidelined with a hamstring injury, has allowed a homer and multiple runs in each of his last three appearances. And they've all come in defeats. Unsung hero Advertisement Can a $765 million player be unsung? Maybe not, but McNeil's late heroics overshadowed Juan Soto's early dominance, which helped keep the Mets in the game. Juan Soto had a huge day for the Mets on Friday. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post He homered in the bottom of the first to tie the game and doubled and scored in the third to begin to put his past miserable Subway Series showing in The Bronx behind him. Key stat 4 Consecutive losses in which the Yankees have allowed at least six runs and three homers. Quote of the day Advertisement 'I think if you back us into a corner, we're gonna fight our way out of it.'' — Reed Garrett
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Cal Raleigh ties Ken Griffey Jr.'s Mariners record for home runs before All-Star break with 35
SEATTLE — On the spot, Cal Raleigh compiled a laundry list of players he would consider for a Mount Rushmore of Seattle Mariners following their 6-0 victory over Pittsburgh on Friday. Ichiro was one of the first names off the board, followed by the likes of stud starting pitchers Felix Hernandez and Randy Johnson. When identifying who is the face of the Mariners, though, Raleigh immediately landed on Ken Griffey Jr., who he tied for the franchise record for home runs before the All-Star break with 35 with a pair of blasts. Advertisement 'To be mentioned with that name, somebody that's just iconic, a legend, first ballot Hall of Famer, I'm just blessed,' Raleigh said. 'Trying to do the right thing and trying to keep it rolling. If I can try to be like that guy, it's a good guy to look up to.' From Raleigh's perspective, Griffey would have 'smashed' the major league home run record rather than come up 132 short of Barry Bonds if not for injuries. Thankfully for Raleigh's sake, that admiration hasn't been reserved for the public eye. Whenever Griffey finds himself back in Seattle, which was the case when FIFA Club World Cup games were taking place at Lumen Field, Raleigh has enjoyed his chats with 'The Kid.' Advertisement 'It's always fun to have him around the clubhouse to just talk to him a little bit and figure out how he went about his business,' Raleigh said. 'So, I've talked to him on the phone once or twice as well. So, he's a good one. He's one of the best of all-time. It's hard to beat talking to somebody like that.' It's also hard to find many comparable runs to what Raleigh — who will participate in the Home Run Derby — is in the midst of, and what Griffey accomplished ahead of the 1998 All-Star break. Manager Dan Wilson, who was a teammate of Griffey's in 1998, is among the few folks who can truly put Raleigh's fast start to 2025 in perspective. 'It's remarkable. It feels like he hits a home run every game, that's what it feels like,' Wilson said. 'And I can remember feeling it as a player, that (Griffey) just felt like he hit a home run every day. Again, that's the consistency that (Raleigh) has shown. It hasn't been a streak where he has hit a bunch of home runs in a short amount of time. It's been kind of 10 per month.' Advertisement 3 Cal Raleigh, belting a two-run homer in the first inning, hit his 34th and 35th homers in the Mariners' 6-0 win over the Pirates on July 4, 2025. Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images To Wilson's point, Raleigh has been remarkably consistent. He walloped nine home runs in April, 12 in May and 11 more in June. Griffey's figures were a tad more mercurial, but just barely (10 in April, eight in May, 14 in June). Advertisement All told, the 28-year-old Raleigh has more than lived up to the early stages of his six-year, $105 million contract extension, which he signed just ahead of the 2025 season. 3 Cal Raleigh celebrates with teammates after belting a solo homer in the sixth inning of the Mariners' victory over the Pirates. Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images Not only has Raleigh set a career high for home runs, but he's on track to post new marks for batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. Raleigh chalked those developments up to his maturing a little over halfway into his fourth full major league season. 'I have the ability to drive the ball out of the ballpark,' Raleigh said. 'I mean, it's part of my game and I'm a strong guy. It's learning how to hone it in and take your hits when maybe you're not getting those pitches in the heart of the plate.' 3 Cal Raleigh holds up the trident and celebrates with the fans after the Mariners' win over the Pirates. Getty Images Such an approach is all well and good, but the results have been starkly different. Raleigh has racked up just 36 singles, or one more than his home run total. Advertisement Suffice to say, Raleigh's offensive output has justified every dollar the Mariners have sent his way so far, and then some. 'Want to make sure I'm doing everything I can every single day to earn that paycheck and earn what they gave me,' Raleigh said. 'But it's a lot more than just that. It's being a leader, doing things in the clubhouse and making sure you're ready to go every single day.'
