Mets Mash Cards with 17 Hits, Cruise to 9–3 Win Behind Alonso, Nimmo, and Holmes

The Mets did what they’ve been doing all season long—hit, pitch, and outplay the opposition in every corner of the ballpark.

On Friday night in St. Louis, they did all three again. Powered by 17 hits and a four-run fifth inning, the Mets opened their road trip with a 9–3 win over the Cardinals. Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo homered, Francisco Alvarez drove in three, and Clay Holmes turned in six gutsy innings. Every starter recorded a hit. 

One for the Win column! #MetsWin #LGM pic.twitter.com/q507mK8NKp

— New York Mets (@Mets) May 3, 2025

 

Answer-back Mets Balance After Early Uncertainty 

Things got off to a to an uncertain start when Clay Holmes allowed a leadoff double to Lars Nootbaar, who swiped third and scored on an infield single by Masyn Winn. Francisco Alvarez caught Winn stealing shortly after, helping Holmes limit the damage to one.

FRANCISCO ALVAREZ GUNS DOWN MASYN WINN 😤😤 pic.twitter.com/khmPtAMNfE

— SleeperMets (@SleeperMets) May 3, 2025

 

The Mets responded right away. Jeff McNeil’s fielder’s choice tied the game with the bases loaded and nobody out in the top of the second. Alvarez followed with a grounder to short, beating the double-play turn to plate Jesse Winker for a 2–1 lead.

St. Louis pulled ahead 3–2 in the third on a throwing error by Alvarez and a Willson Contreras RBI single, but Holmes settled in, retiring eight straight through the middle innings.

He finished six full innings, allowing eight hits, three earned runs, with no walks, and three strikeouts. “Kick-Change Clay” continues to anchor dominance in this starting rotation.

Clay Holmes this season:

36.2 IP
2.95 ERA
39 K

Yet to allow a home run. pic.twitter.com/T9CRWZ8S4p

— MetsMuse (@MetsMuse) May 3, 2025

 

Fifth Inning Came up All New York

The lineup exploded after a rather quiet fourth inning.

Juan Soto rifles a 114.3-MPH double to right 💪 pic.twitter.com/GlYaa9j3Lo

— SNY (@SNYtv) May 3, 2025

 

Juan Soto cracked a 114.3 mph 0-2 double to right field, the hardest batted ball in MLB thus far, and Pete Alonso obliterated a center-cut changeup for a 417-foot two-run homer—his eighth of the year—to flip the score to 4–3.

Pete Alonso pulverizes this baseball to give the @Mets the lead 💥 pic.twitter.com/X77BDMc4Y0

— MLB (@MLB) May 3, 2025

 

Nimmo and Winker followed with back-to-back singles to end Sonny Gray’s night, and after an error by Contreras extended the inning, Alvarez roped another RBI single the other way. Mets 6, Cardinals 3—and the game never got close again.

Willson Contreras drops the ball and Brandon Nimmo comes home with another Mets run! pic.twitter.com/oe8dsJm3cx

— SNY (@SNYtv) May 3, 2025

 

Nimmo Finds No. 7, Alvarez 3–5 on the Night

Brandon Nimmo showed everybody why he likes swinging on the first pitch—lifting a sweet-spot sinker 407ft to record his seventh home run of the season to right-center field in the seventh inning. 

Nimmo leaves the yard 😤@You_Found_Nimmo | #LGM pic.twitter.com/ooOhia0PQr

— New York Mets (@Mets) May 3, 2025

 

Alvarez added another RBI knock in the seventh—his third hit and third run batted in of the night.

It’s a 3-RBI game for Francisco Alvarez!

He brings home Tyrone Taylor to make it 8-3 Mets! pic.twitter.com/uEIDR4pbHP

— SNY (@SNYtv) May 3, 2025

 

Bullpen Back Action: Buttó Locked In and Stan(e)ky Leg Filth

José Buttó took over in the seventh and got six solid outs, dancing around a little traffic, but flashing the reliable stuff he’d showcased in early April to escape scoreless with only one walk. 

Ryne Stanek then closed it out with an exceptionally clean ninth, leaning on his four-seam with a 1-2-3 inning. 

Highlights

• Pete Alonso:
  • 2–5 | (1) HR | (1) R | (2) RBI
  • .345 AVG | 1.137 OPS
• Brandon Nimmo:
  • 3–5 | (1) HR | (3) R | (3) RBI
  • .229 AVG | .720 OPS
• Francisco Alvarez:
  • 3–5 | (3) RBI
  • .260 AVG | .744 OPS
• Juan Soto:
  • 2–5 | (1) R
  • .258 AVG | .829 OPS
• Jesse Winker:
  • 2–5 | (1) R
  • .239 AVG | .734 OPS
• Clay Holmes
  • 6.0 IP | 8 H | 3 R/ER | 0 BB| 3 K
  • 2.95 ERA

Good, Clean, Intentional At-Bats 

Over their last 15 games, the Mets have scored 87 runs and racked up 148 hits. Of their 17 knocks on Friday, seven came with two strikes. “Controlled aggression,” Nimmo called it.

“It’s just trying to look for your pitch and be ready at any time… it’s something we’ve talked about through the organization, but especially here in the big leagues. You’re never out of an at-bat.”

“I love what he’s doing right now. I know he put a lot of hard work in this offseason. I’m so proud of him.”

Brandon Nimmo talks with @SteveGelbs about Pete Alonso and more after the Mets’ 9-3 win over the Cardinals: pic.twitter.com/tXhU10b7BW

— SNY (@SNYtv) May 3, 2025

 

Manager Carlos Mendoza echoed the praise: “He’s been locked in—a good hitter who’s finally getting results. Now the ball is falling, the power is right there. Not surprised by it.”

Keep it Rolling Through The ‘Lou

The Mets improved to 22–11 with the win on Friday night and will look to keep the momentum rolling into Saturday. They’re clicking in all phases—and more than a month into the season, there’s no sign of slowing down.