David Peterson Stands Tall, but Mets Falter Late in Subway Series Finale
The Mets wrapped up their weekend in the Bronx with a frustrating 8-2 loss to the Yankees on Sunday night, dropping the Subway Series despite another impressive effort from David Peterson.
for anyone who might need this, the Mets are still tied for the best record in the National League. pic.twitter.com/7SXmRTco4S
— 𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞 ✞ (@PeteForMVP) May 19, 2025
The lefty went pitch for pitch with Yankees ace Max Fried, showcasing the kind of poise the Mets needed against the MLB ERA leader, whom ESPN stated had a “magical night,” with Peterson right there with him without acknowledgement. Still, it wasn’t enough to fend off a late Yankees surge.
Just remember Yankee fans, this was your World Series this weekend, not ours.
Mets fans, stay positive.
I will lead us.
— Tommy Lugauer (@tommylugauer) May 19, 2025
Early Trouble, Strong Response
Peterson’s outing started on shaky ground when a Mark Vientos error at third allowed Paul Goldschmidt to reach to start the bottom of the first. Aaron Judge then doubled, and Cody Bellinger drove in two runs with a shot down the first-base line. Just like that, the Yankees were up 2-0.
Despite the rough start, Peterson showed resilience, working around a leadoff single in the second and a two-out walk in the third. He really settled in by the fourth, recording his first 1-2-3 inning of the night.
Have A Day, Jeff
The Mets clawed their way back into the game in the top of the fifth. Jeff McNeil, who drove in the first run in the second with an RBI single, led off with a gritty, eight-pitch walk, moved to second on a sacrifice by Luisangel Acuña, and advanced to third on Francisco Lindor’s groundout. Then, a wild pitch from Fried brought McNeil charging home to tie the game at two, showing the kind of heads-up baserunning that’s kept the Mets competitive all season.
Jeff McNeil: ATHLETE
pic.twitter.com/g0AFIdQCLV— Mets’d Up Podcast (@MetsdUp) May 19, 2025
Peterson kept the Mets in the fight, navigating a bases-loaded jam in the fifth by intentionally walking Judge and then forcing Anthony Volpe into a groundout to short. It was the kind of high-stakes, high-execution moment that defined Peterson’s night.
Six innings and one earned run for David Peterson tonight 👏
(An earlier version of this post incorrectly stated that Peterson pitched five innings. We apologize for the error.) pic.twitter.com/Wydo1unKQj
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) May 19, 2025
Peterson’s Strong Six Unraveled by Bullpen
Peterson wrapped up his night with a clean sixth inning, bringing his final line to two runs (one earned) on three hits with four walks and four strikeouts over six innings. It was another quality start for the lefty, who lowered his ERA to 2.86 while facing one of the most formidable lineups in baseball.
Huascar Brazobán escapes bases-loaded trouble to end the 7th inning! #RivlaryWeekend pic.twitter.com/SuDZVraUKQ
— MLB (@MLB) May 19, 2025
But just as it seemed like the Mets were poised to hang tough, the eighth inning unraveled. After a strong spout of relief from the ever-dominant Huascar Brazobán, Ryne Stanek and Genesis Cabrera struggled to keep the game tied, and a costly error by Pete Alonso on a throw home allowed the Yankees to take the lead.
Cody Bellinger delivered the dagger with his ninth career grand slam, and by the time the dust settled, the Yankees had put up six runs in the inning. The Mets couldn’t recover, falling 8-2 in the finale.
Canning’s Stellar Saturday Matinee Win
Saturday night’s win in the Bronx was a high point for the Mets—a hard-fought victory over the Yankees behind Griffin Canning’s strong start. But the weekend ended on a sour note, with (expected) nonsense spilling over into the Billy’s postgame crowd. A sweet little push down the stairs left me with a fractured finger, a reminder that the intensity of the Subway Series doesn’t always stay on the field.
Still, there’s no reason to overreact to dropping the series. The Mets have already swept the NL’s second-place Phillies and taken a series from the Cubs, proving they can compete with top-tier teams.
Looking Ahead
It’s a tough pill to swallow after Peterson’s promising start and some scrappy offensive work to stay in the game. Alonso called for the team to focus on “clean, quality baseball” moving forward, emphasizing the importance of making plays and capitalizing on scoring opportunities.
With the loss, the Mets dropped the series two games to one and fell below .500 on the road, but are were still 11 above overall. Next up: a series in Boston against the Red Sox before a weekend set at home against the high-powered Dodgers and Shohei Ohtani.
Carlos Mendoza stressed the importance of turning the page quickly. “We didn’t get the job done and lost the series,” Mendoza said. “Now we have to get ready for another good team. That’s our mentality—one day at a time.”
Losing the first leg of the Subway Series isn’t ideal, but it’s far from a defining moment. The Yankees may have taken two of three, but they’ll be back at Citi Field in July—where the atmosphere is a little more welcoming, the food’s a bit better, and the Mets will be healthier and better positioned to make their mark.
Soto is a Met afor a Long, Long Time
Amid the noise, Juan Soto, the Yankees’ Airbnb rental turned 15-year-Franchise-Met, became a focal point, enduring a weekend of relentless boos, profanities, and back-turning (lol, really) from the Bronx bleachers. But knowing Soto, that might be exactly the kind of fuel he needs. He’s found his rhythm after rough stretches before, and there’s reason to believe he’ll use the adversity as motivation.
The right field bleachers turned the back on Juan Soto as he took the field for the first time.
Tough look. So petty.
— Ben Verlander (@BenVerlander) May 16, 2025
Despite the loss, Peterson’s performance was a bright spot, proving once again that he can go toe-to-toe with the best. The Mets will head to Boston next, ready to put the Subway Series behind them and refocus. July’s rematch at Citi Field will be a different story—both on the field and in the stands.
— Gab (@gabrielleraucci) May 16, 2025
