Despite a lopsided score and home runs by Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso and Starling Marte, the most impressive inning for the Mets was one where they didn’t have to swing the bats at all.
In the top of the fourth inning, with left-hander David Peterson facing the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Nos. 3-5 hitters, the Mets made three of the more difficult, dynamic plays you’ll see all year, and made them consecutively in an 8-3 win Tuesday night at Citi Field.
Mark Vientos dove to stop Randal Grichuk’s ground-ball from getting through and the ball deflected off of his glove. Lindor caught it off the bounce and heaved the throw from the edge of the grass across the diamond to Alonso at first base. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. then hit a deep fly ball to the left-center warning track that looked destined for extra bases, until center fielder Tyrone Taylor sprinted over from right-center and dove, somehow coming up with the ball after covering all of that ground.
Eugenio Suarez smoked a sinker more than 111 MPH off the bat, but Lindor made a backhanded stop at the edge of the grass and sent it to Alonso.
“Pretty unbelievable,” said manager Carlos Mendoza. “That’s what you call a big-league defensive inning. A bullet goes off Vientos’s glove and then Lindor gets it and throws the guy out. That Taylor play was unbelievable. When that ball went up, I’m looking at Taylor when he started and I was like, ‘No way he’s going to get there.’ And before you know it, he’s diving for it and makes a ridiculous play.”
Seeing that he got to the ball for the out, Taylor came up saying, “wow” while Peterson and his catcher, Francisco Alvarez, threw up his arms.
“I shocked myself a little bit,” Taylor said.
For his efforts, he was given three hugs by Peterson.
The Mets were already up 7-0, but even with a large lead, they never let up. This game was a perfect characterization of the 2025 Mets so far. Their scorching hot start has been the result of a long lineup, run suppression and an energetic style of play that wears out other teams on both sides of the ball.
“I’ve never seen something like that, and I heard multiple guys say that [tonight],” Peterson said. “It’s Mark kicking it to Lindor, then Tyrone, obviously doing what he did, and then Lindor sticking with that hard hit ground ball at the end was awesome. Pete was great over at first today, he made a bunch of plays. The defense was spectacular.”
Alonso’s teammates were quick to give him credit for more than just his home run. The first baseman made a number of tough picks at first base and showcased excellent fundamentals around the bag.
Taylor might have made an incredible catch, but he also drove in two runs, going 2-for-4 with a double. The outfielder drove in the first run of the game in the bottom of the second, sparking a two-out rally that saw the Mets take four runs off left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez. Taylor’s double scored Luisangel Acuña from first base, and Jose Azocar sent him home on a single.
Lindor then took Rodriguez deep to left field where the ball was flying all night. His sixth homer of the year made it 4-0, and Marte made it 6-0 in the bottom of the third with a two-run shot off Rodriguez.
The Mets (21-9) could do no wrong. A bloop single by Acuña came with one out. With two outs and Acuña in scoring position after stealing second base, Taylor lined one to center to give the Mets a 7-0 lead.
“It feels good to contribute,” Taylor said. “I’m off to a slow start with the stick, so anytime I do some good stuff for the team, it feels good.”
Alonso hit his seventh home run of the season in the fourth. The Diamondbacks (15-14) pulled Rodriguez (1-3) after four innings, nine hits, eight earned runs, one walk and one strikeout.
“There’s a lot to like,” Mendoza said. “It’s 1-9, everybody seems like they’re clicking. Not missing pitches, sticking to their approach, executing at-bats, the game plan, not chasing as much, using the whole field. We saw it today. A lot of two-out RBI and people going the other way, using the big part of the field, doing damage when we need to.”
Peterson went five innings in the win (2-1), limiting the Snakes to only one run on five hits while striking out two. At 85 pitches, the Mets could have sent him back out for a sixth inning, but Mendoza was concerned about all of the hard contact he was giving up, plus they called up Kevin Herget earlier in the day for bullpen help.
Ultimately, Peterson was given a boost in confidence with the way the defense played behind him.
“It gives you the freedom to know that you can pitch to contact and that they have your back,” he said.
The best team in baseball protected its best home record in baseball. Now 13-1 at Citi Field, it’s never been more evident that the Mets play with an extra-passionate edge at home.
“It’s always electric here, man,” Taylor said. “We love playing here — I can speak for everybody on that. The crowd is great every single time we’re here. It’s awesome.”
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