– by Adesina O. Koiki
A Lot of Sports Talk editor-in-chief
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NEW YORK — They may have come a little bit later in the season than Mets fans would have wanted, but after the latest feat from New York’s relatively new superstar, Juan Soto, the consternation and angst from the faithful late in the spring have turned into some M!-V!-P! chants ringing around Citi Field.
Soto capped a rousing New York comeback in the fourth inning with a majestic three-run home run to dead center field as the Mets defeated the Washington Nationals 12-6 to start New York’s final regular-season series at home. The win allowed the Mets to maintain their two-game lead over the Cincinnati Reds for the final Wild Card spot in the National League.
Soto’s exploits, including during his lone season across town with the Yankees last season, made his slow start to 2025 all the more frustrating for the Mets, who did preach patience that whatever was contributing to his early-season malaise — and despite the squad’s great form despite his slump — would abate, and that the real Juan Soto would stand and be counted.
As the Mets’ season pushed toward teetering to a collapse, during the second half, Soto has stood as tall as anyone in keeping the team afloat. Since August 29, Soto has 10 home runs and a league-leading 24 runs batted in, and his latest dinger was part of a six-run fourth inning after some of the hallmarks of New York’s second-half slide — sloppy defense, starters not going deep into games and struggling to find the strike zone — led to the Nationals’ 4-1 lead heading into the frame.
Francisco Alvarez tied the game at 4-4 with a two-run double before Lindor gave New York the lead for good with a run-scoring single, a play in which Washington left fielder James Wood bobbled the ball while fielding it and allowed Lindor and the lead runner, Brett Baty, to advance to second and third.
Soto then came up, and sent a towering shot off the facing of the Home Run Apple in center field to set off wild celebrations inside Citi Field. It also marked Soto’s new career high with his 42nd home run of the season.
“I could go a lot of different ways [when talking about Soto],” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “When you are talking about the numbers, it’s something special. You compare him to some of the greatest players that ever played this game when you look at the numbers.
“To me, it’s just the person. It’s how consistent he is throughout the whole year. When it was hard for him in the beginning, going through the ups and downs … he never panicked. The impact that he has with the boys, that for me is what makes who he is. Special guy, special player.”
*Editor’s note: Above the byline is the photo gallery from Saturday evening’s game, with photos taken by staff photographer Danny Suriel. After clicking on a photo to enlarge the picture, press the left and right arrow buttons on either side of the caption to scroll through the rest of the pictures that appear on the first page. Also, click on the numbers and/or arrow appearing immediately below the picture grid to load the next set of photos. There are 30 pictures in total.
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