Juan Soto made headlines on Monday night as he hit a two-run homer, leading the New York Mets to a 5-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. This game marked a significant moment for Soto, who ended a 13-game home run drought with his powerful swing in the seventh inning.
Soto, who joined the Mets after a successful stint with the Yankees, had been waiting for pitchers to challenge him. Before the game, he noted that his experience this season was different from last year when he had Aaron Judge hitting behind him. “I had the best hitter in baseball hitting behind me,” Soto explained, reflecting on how it affected how pitchers approached him. He mentioned that he faced more strikes and fewer intentional walks when Judge was in the lineup.
In this game, Soto’s home run came after the Mets had built a 3-1 lead. He hit a changeup from Jorge Alcala, sending the ball deep into right-center field. The blast was a welcome sight for Mets fans as it not only marked Soto’s second home run of the season but also showcased his ability to bounce back.
The Mets’ offense was strong throughout the night. Pete Alonso, who has thrived with Soto in the lineup, reached base four times with two singles and two walks, raising his OPS to an impressive 1.137. Alonso’s contributions included an RBI single in the third inning that opened the scoring for the Mets.
Mets pitcher Clay Holmes had a solid outing, striking out eight batters and allowing just two hits in five innings. He faced a tense moment in the fifth inning when the Twins loaded the bases, but he managed to limit the damage to just one run, thanks to a sacrifice fly from Christian Vázquez. After a brief visit from pitching coach Jeremy Hefner, Holmes regained his composure, getting three consecutive outs to end the inning.
The Mets added two more runs in the sixth inning. Mark Vientos hit an RBI double, and a fielding error by pitcher Justin Topa allowed Vientos to score. Soto’s two-run homer in the seventh capped the Mets’ scoring for the night.
Overall, the Mets showcased a well-rounded performance, combining strong pitching with timely hitting. The victory was the Mets’ third in four games, and it highlighted Soto’s potential impact on the team as he continues to adapt to his new environment.