Francisco Sets the Tone, Winker Whacks His First, Tylor Turns It Up, and the Mets Fire First Shot in Statement Series Win Over Phillies on Monday
Francisco Lindor is a certified #PhillyKiller. His leadoff homer, a 376-foot bolt into the second deck of Citi Field seats, was the opening crack of thunder in a 5–4 Mets win that had everything: early fireworks, surgical pitching, a little drama, and one loud declaration from Queens—this team is a problem.
Another day, another Francisco Lindor leadoff home run!
(via @SNYtv)pic.twitter.com/54x3udH6RM
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) April 21, 2025
Lindor wasn’t done after his first-inning firestarter. In the sixth, with two on and two out, and Nola’s pitch count dragging him toward the exit sign, Lindor dropped the hammer again—an opposite-field missile that made it 5–0 and marked his second of the night. Four RBIs. Two homers. A .476 average out of the leadoff spot. This is a superstar on a mission, and Citi Field is riding shotgun.
FRANCISCO LINDOR STRIKES AGAIN!
HIS SECOND HOME RUN OF THE NIGHT! pic.twitter.com/oUAsBzVPCg
— SNY (@SNYtv) April 22, 2025
Winker Whacks His First of the Year
Just one inning earlier, Jesse Winker unloaded on a get-me-over fastball and sent it to the same place he’s been haunting Aaron Nola since last October.
HEY JESSE!
JESSE WINKER’S FIRST HOME RUN OF THE YEAR! pic.twitter.com/5gN3HNbqTc
— SNY (@SNYtv) April 21, 2025
His first of the season came on a 2-0 count—same as the 2024 NLCS moonshot that quieted Philly’s dugout. Nola might need a support group soon.
i knew jesse winker had a beautiful relationship with his daughter but i had no idea he also had a son named aaron 🥹 so sweet
— jenna (@jennaashlyn) April 21, 2025
Soto’s Came Down to Inches
Juan Soto nearly joined the party with a three-run shot of his own, hooking one just foul down the right field line. Replay took it back, but Soto’s barrel is heating up. That first Citi homer is imminent—and everyone knows it.
Juan Soto *just* missed his first Citi Field home run as a Met pic.twitter.com/KL17ufnZgt
— SNY (@SNYtv) April 22, 2025
Insurance, Alonso’s and Acuña’s Bats Are Red Hot
Luisangel Acuña had another quality night at the plate, Pete Alonso smoked a double and played a clean game at first, and Mark Vientos was back in uniform after nursing a groin tweak—another sign this lineup is inching toward full strength.
Luisangel Acuña gets a base hit! pic.twitter.com/pHEcS1x8MK
— SNY (@SNYtv) April 22, 2025
Cylor Megill’s Ten Punchout Dominance
Tylor Megill was ruthless. In 5.1 innings, he allowed one hit, punched out a career-high ten, and looked like a guy who’s more than worthy of a front-end starting slot. His ERA is now 1.09 through five starts.
CYLOR MEGILL IS THAT DUDE pic.twitter.com/qbRSdzPjmw
— Pitch Profiler (@pitchprofiler) April 22, 2025
He’s not just giving the Mets innings—he’s giving them identity.
#Cylor pic.twitter.com/ZP6cSHpCnt
— Sam (@SamxWoba02) April 22, 2025
Bullpen Backs Megill’s Start
Reed Garrett came in and stayed perfect with inherited runners, stranding two more in the sixth. That’s 9-for-9 this season, still rocking a 0.00 ERA. In a bullpen stacked with storylines, Garrett’s consistency is writing its own.
REED GARRETT xDAWG+: 200 pic.twitter.com/yx5xx51SLf
— Pitch Profiler (@pitchprofiler) April 22, 2025
Max Kranick tried to lock down the final three innings but ran into trouble in the ninth, and Edwin Díaz was summoned by the trumpets of “Narco.”
HEEEEEE STRUCK HIM OUT AND THE BALLGAME IS OVER!
METS WIN 5-4! pic.twitter.com/5cvppGx714
— SNY (@SNYtv) April 22, 2025
The Mets had been riding a shutout before Philly etched four runs, one from a JT Realmuto RBI single and a three-run home run to Stott. (It wouldn’t have been a Diaz outing without a near cardiac event, having nearly tied the score up).
But he locked it down, as Trea Turner and Bryce Harper came up, and he (thankfully) settled back in with some Ks, ending it with back-to-back strikeouts that rattled the upper deck.
1st Place in NL East
But the message was clear: the Mets took Game 1 from their biggest division threat, looked better in every phase, and did it behind dominant pitching and star-level swagger. This wasn’t just a win. This was a tone-setter.
Wow can’t believe the Phillies let this happen pic.twitter.com/IHlLID6ECf
— Mike Janela (@MikeJanela) April 22, 2025
And if the Phillies came to Queens thinking the NL East still belongs to them—they just got corrected.
