Mets, Yankees delivered New York a fitting early fireworks show on Fourth of July
Even with the Yankees and Mets generally at their worst and unhealthiest in recent weeks — and let's hope it doesn't get much worse or any unhealthier than this — the show must go on. And what a Subway Series show these two struggling/ailing teams put on while simultaneously putting their various, increasing troubles aside.
This was an American holiday done right, from first-inning fireworks featuring three home runs, including one each by superstars Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, to Jeff McNeil's game-winning home run and finally McNeil's show-stopper of a play in the ninth to help save a memorable 6-5 win for this seriously depleted Mets team.
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5 Cody Bellinger ripped a homer for the Yankees.
Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
'That was a [bleeping] good one,' one Met declared upon entrance into their clubhouse.
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Fox News
31 minutes ago
- Fox News
Juan Soto brings fireworks on Fourth of July in back-and-forth Subway Series battle
NEW YORK — This was the moment Mets fans had been anticipating and Yankees fans had been dreading. Juan Soto stepped into the box in the bottom of the first inning Friday with a chance to stop the Yankees' momentum and start the party at Citi Field. In the top of the frame, Yankees outfielders Jasson Dominguez and Aaron Judge had crushed back-to-back home runs and put the Mets in a two-run hole. But Soto could erase his former team's lead with one swing. "Flip one out of here and this place will go nuts," Ron Darling said on the SNY broadcast. He was onto something. A moment later, Soto punished Marcus Stroman's mistake — an 89-mph cutter, up and away and right where Soto likes it — and drove it to left field for a game-tying two-run home run. The crowd erupted and gave Soto a standing ovation, witnessing Game 1 of a Subway Series that was already oozing with intensity even though there were eight more innings to go. The fireworks came early on the Fourth of July, and Soto's team-leading 21st home run was just the beginning. The fuse was lit all afternoon as the crosstown rivals battled in a back-and-forth affair until Jeff McNeil delivered the final blow: a go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh inning that brought the house down. The Amazins' injury-ridden and overtaxed pitching staff pieced together 27 outs and Soto's Mets toppled the Yankees in a 6-5 win at Citi Field. "I just feel good right now," said Soto, who went 3-for-4 with two runs scored in the opening salvo. "I'm seeing the ball really well. I'm trying to take my chances. When I swing the bat, I'm trying to do damage every time." The Yankees suffered their fifth consecutive loss, and it had to sting a little more when Soto, the one that got away, was the slugger who flipped the script in the first inning. "He's one of the best for a reason," Stroman said. "He's extremely locked in right now. He's all over everything, so he's just an incredibly hard at-bat." Seven months ago, Soto walked away from the Yankees and signed the richest contract in professional sports history with the Mets. In doing so, he revitalized a crosstown rivalry that hadn't seen a brand-name player switch sides since the days of Doc Gooden and David Cone in the 1990s. But Soto's decision to leave the Bronx was much bigger than either of those instances. It was unprecedented for a generational hitter to choose, in free agency, to spend the rest of his career playing for the less-successful New York franchise, instead of securing an enduring legacy in pinstripes that would've saved him a spot in Monument Park. After taking the Bronx Bombers to the World Series for the first time in 15 years, Soto delivered Yankees fans the type of chronic pain that will recur annually — every Subway Series, to be exact. Consider his electric performance on Friday afternoon just the first of many more instances to come. "He had a great day," McNeil said of Soto. "Huge home run. That's just who he is. It's fun to watch, and I feel like every time he comes to the plate he's going to do something cool." Back in December, once the shock wore off from hearing the details of Soto's contract — he's set to earn a mind-boggling $765 million across 15 years — every baseball head in the city wanted to know one thing: when is the next Subway Series? Instead of Soto and Judge creating one of the most feared duos in baseball history, the two powerhouse hitters became instant rivals, certain to put on a show for many years to come. Unlike Judge, who made it clear he was the favorite to win the American League MVP as early as April, it took a couple of months for Soto to heat up. The Bronx's newest and most hated villain, Soto was greeted with ferocious, nonstop boos when the Yankees hosted the Mets in May. But, rather than loud contact off of Soto's bat, all the noise came from the stands. The Mets right fielder went 1-for-10 at the plate in his first three games at Yankee Stadium as a Met as his early-season struggles continued. A couple of months ago, the advanced metrics suggested Soto was one of the unluckiest hitters in baseball. If he kept following the same approach and continued hitting the ball on the barrel, the results would come. In a torrid June, Soto batted .322 with a 1.196 OPS, 11 home runs, 20 RBI and 26 walks across 27 games. Not only did he have much better luck — and results — when the Mets hosted the Yankees at Citi Field on Friday, but Soto looked unbeatable at the plate. "It's pretty special because every time he's at the plate, you feel good about your chances," Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said of Soto. "And when we got guys that are getting on base and we're turning the lineup over and getting him at the plate as many times, when he's going like that, it's a pretty special feeling. We're kind of like, let's keep the line moving, let's get him at the plate. And just with how easy he's doing it … he's locked in. "It's what you expect out of games like this. Subway Series, packed house, fan base is intense, going after each other. I'm glad we got the job done today." Deesha Thosar covers Major League Baseball as a reporter and columnist for FOX Sports. She previously covered the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Long Island and now lives in Queens. Follow her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Mets have most at stake for rest of season as concerns mount entering trade deadline
Steve Cohen has committed himself in spirit, personality and finances for these Mets not to be those Mets. Few items have made Cohen bristle more in his time as owner than conversations that attempt to equate this version of the franchise with the waiting-for-the-other-shoe-to-drop Mets of, especially, the Wilpon-ian past. He has noted what came before him as a demarcation point of which he had no control over sprayed bleach, or putting Ryan Church on a plane with a concussion, or scores of other dumb Mets tricks that so litter their mainly sad-sack history. 3 Mets owner Steve Cohen. AP Advertisement Cohen has made it clear that central to his stewardship is to change this narrative, to make the Mets overflow with competence and serially win, and not perpetually cower that any positive step forward will be countered by two negative ones back. Which is why the past few weeks of lost players, games and sense of destiny has particular resonance with the Mets. Because they are still trying to shake a poor history of just six first-place finishes, 11 playoff appearances, only twice making the playoffs in consecutive years and never having done so three straight seasons.
NBC Sports
an hour ago
- NBC Sports
Eagles are still waiting for their Super Bowl LIX rings
For a team with aspirations to win a second Super Bowl in a row, it's important to turn the page on the first one. The Eagles are still waiting to do that. Nearly a month after the initial date for getting their championship rings, the Eagles are still waiting for the most coveted piece of jewelry in American sports. The rings were supposed to be distributed on June 6. The event was postponed due to production issues, and there has been no news on when it will happen. (We asked the team on Friday for an update, but got no response. Which is fine, since it was July 4.) At this point, the ring ceremony likely won't happen until the team has gathered for training camp. When coach Nick Sirianni is hoping to have the team focused fully on the task at hand, and not navel gazing over last year's accomplishments. While they deserve to properly celebrate getting to the top of the NFL's mountain, they're about to retreat to the Valley of 0-0. Along with 31 other teams, all of which will be trying to do what the Eagles have done — and which will be using the Eagles as the ultimate measuring stick. Every week, the Eagles will get the A+ game from each opponent. While they're talented enough to do it again, it will take full focus and commitment and concentration. Which means that, no, it's not ideal for the players to be getting their Super Bowl LIX rings once the climb toward Super Bowl LX has officially begun.
