Subway Series in Queens: Mets take 2 of 3 from Yankees at Citi Field

The Mets took two of three in the Queens leg of the Subway Series, riding monster performances from their core five—Soto, Nimmo, Alonso, McNeil, and Lindor—and flexing just enough despite a patchwork rotation and bullpen duct-taped together by Carlos Mendoza and a dream.

But this energy flip came at exactly the right time.

“Fourth of July weekend, Subway Series, that’s Americana right there.”

Pete Alonso talks about the atmosphere at Citi Field for the Mets-Yankees series: pic.twitter.com/AnO0cep9tn

— SNY (@SNYtv) July 6, 2025

 

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Game 1: Soto Stuns Bronx Ghosts, McNeil Delivers on Both Sides of the Ball—Mets 6, Yankees 5

The Yankees landed the first punch Friday night with back-to-back first-inning homers off rookie Justin Hagenman in his MLB debut. But Citi Field barely had time to groan before Juan Soto punched right back.

After stepping into a thunderous ovation—his first time facing the Yankees at Citi Field since defecting from the Bronx (after a 2024 Airbnb rental of a season)—Soto crushed a game-tying two-run homer to left-center off Marcus Stroman in the first inning. That blast reset the tone and reminded the Citi Field Faithful that these Mets are not to be counted out. 

Juan Soto 😏 pic.twitter.com/Slr7I3gEGR

— New York Mets (@Mets) July 4, 2025

 

From there, it was Soto’s show:

• 3-for-4 with a HR, double, and single

• 2 RBI, 2 runs scored

• 108.6 mph double, 106.8 mph flyout in his final at-bat

Have a day at the dish, Juan!@moomooApp | #LGM pic.twitter.com/OULEKlqwU7

— New York Mets (@Mets) July 4, 2025

 

Baty goes deep! 💪 pic.twitter.com/15ORrJnnMb

— New York Mets (@Mets) July 4, 2025

 

A month and a half ago, he was getting booed out of the Bronx. This weekend, he bathed in a standing ovation and answered with a fireworks show of his own.

Brett Baty got things going again in the sixth, lifting a sweet-spot slider 370ft for a solo shot to bring the Mets just one run shy before Jeff McNeil (McHits if you’re nasty), took care of the dagger, launching a go-ahead two-run shot down the right field line in the 7th, scoring Pete Alonso who extended the inning with a walk.

SECOND DECK.@JeffMcNeil805 for the lead! pic.twitter.com/QE0rFuSOkw

— New York Mets (@Mets) July 4, 2025

 

OH, JEFF! pic.twitter.com/sbVDTrkdM3

— New York Mets (@Mets) July 4, 2025

 

The Mets’ bullpen, powered by three punchouts from Huascar Brazobán and a dominant six-out save by Reed Garrett, held on from there for a gritty 6–5 win. It was their third straight victory—and a sound statement from Soto, who’s now hitting .324 with a 1.153 OPS since June 1.

THAT’S A W! #MetsWin #LGM pic.twitter.com/QNp1qQaJnv

— New York Mets (@Mets) July 4, 2025

 

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Game 2: Nimmo Slams Early, Alonso Slams the Door (With Two Home Runs)—Mets 12, Yankees 6

Citi Field turned into a launchpad Saturday night.

Brandon Nimmo opened the party in the first inning with his second grand slam in four days, jumping on a Carlos Rodón fastball to put the Mets up 4–0 early.

That’s TWO grand slams this week for Nimmo! 💣💣@You_Found_Nimmo | #LGM pic.twitter.com/8jZPC8T5PT

— New York Mets (@Mets) July 5, 2025

 

From there, Pete Alonso turned it into a blowout.

Alonso hit two home runs:

• A two-run opposite-field shot in the 5th

• A three-run nuke in the 7th off Yankees rookie Jayvien Sandridge

Pete said SEE YA! 😤 pic.twitter.com/wAEAERLyfA

— New York Mets (@Mets) July 5, 2025

That ball was CRUSHED 😤 pic.twitter.com/XdBhMZnGRE

— New York Mets (@Mets) July 5, 2025

 

That gave Alonso 20 homers on the season and 246 for his career, putting him just six shy of Darryl Strawberry’s franchise record.

Pete with the MONSTER performance! 💪@moomooApp | #LGM pic.twitter.com/UkAg60rUls

— New York Mets (@Mets) July 6, 2025

 

Francisco Lindor reached base four times (2 hits, 2 walks), scored four runs, and swiped a bag—his 199th of his career.

Francisco Lindor steals the 199th base of his career pic.twitter.com/t1JK04MpLE

— SNY (@SNYtv) July 5, 2025

 

Frankie Montas gave the Mets a solid start, better than his 5.2 IP, 4 ER line suggests—two of those runs came on bloops and misplays in the sixth. With the bullpen stretched thin, Dicky Lovelady, Chris Devenski, Ryne Stanek, and Edwin Díaz combined to close it out.

Saturday cemented the series win for the orange and blue, marking the fourth straight victory for the Mets, piling up 12 runs on 13 hits, sending Rodón’s ERA skyrocketing from 2.95 to 3.30 and handing the Yankees their sixth straight loss.

Another WWWWin! #MetsWin #LGM pic.twitter.com/38APzhtbkD

— New York Mets (@Mets) July 5, 2025

 

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Game 3: Mets Claw Back, Relief Can’t Hold It, Mendoza —Yankees 6, Mets 4

Sunday’s finale was patchwork from the start. Chris Devenski opened, and Zach Pop made his Mets debut. Pop promptly gave up a solo homer on his second pitch and allowed three runs over two innings. Brandon Waddell and Rico García followed. By day’s end, the Mets had used their 35th pitcher of the season, the most in baseball.

Chris Devenski threw 13 pitches, 12 strikes in the first inning.

— Mike Puma (@NYPost_Mets) July 6, 2025

 

But still, the Mets made it a game.

Down 5–0, they clawed back behind:

• A two-run single from Lindor in the 5th

• A bases-loaded infield single from McNeil in the 6th

• Aggressive pinch-hitting from Mendoza: Ronny Mauricio for Mark Vientos, Brett Baty for Tyrone Taylor—both came through with singles

Lindor plates a pair! pic.twitter.com/nSyE1Ewrea

— New York Mets (@Mets) July 6, 2025

 

But a sliding catch and double play by Cody Bellinger against Juan Soto and an absolutely egregious strike zone in the ninth sealed the 6–4 loss.

John Bacon must have a 6 p.m. dinner reservation pic.twitter.com/z1TXFk6vJw

— Metsmerized Online (@Metsmerized) July 6, 2025

 

Mendoza finally snapped, and rightfully so. After Luis Torrens was rung up on two pitches well outside the zone, the Mets’ skipper stormed out of the dugout and was ejected for the second time in eight days. This time, he got his money’s worth: yelling, pointing, kicking dirt over the plate—classic.

Carlos Mendoza has been ejected for arguing balls and strikes with home plate umpire John Bacon pic.twitter.com/aJrDvmn4Ay

— SNY (@SNYtv) July 6, 2025

 

“It was building up the whole game,” Mendoza said. “We’re trying to get guys on base down two runs, and we get rung up on two pitches that are nowhere near the zone. Just frustrating.”

The rally died there. The Mets dropped the finale, but took the war.

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Series Takeaways: Mets Are Back

• Juan Soto: Batting .412 in July, 21 HR, .904 OPS on the season, NL Player of the Month for June, and royally snubbed in the All-Star voting

• Pete Alonso: 5 RBI on Saturday, 20 homers on the year, now chasing history at 246 career HR

• Brandon Nimmo: Two grand slams in a week. Need I say more?

• Francisco Lindor: Heating up at the right time, contributing everywhere—hits, steals, defense, and energy

• Carlos Mendoza: Managing a bullpen on life support and still took two games against the AL’s highest-paid lineup

• Pitching staff: No Senga. No Manaea. No Megill. No Kranick. No Buttó. Good for a series win… for now. But the reinforcements (Senga/Manaea) will return soon enough—Could be as soon as Friday against the Royals in KC

• Jesse Winker is expected to return to the Mets’ lineup by Tuesday against the Orioles in Baltimore 

🍎⚾️🫡✅ pic.twitter.com/03j0d7Mao1

— Gab (@gabrielleraucci) July 6, 2025

 

The Mets now sit 1.5 games behind the Phillies, trending up again with the All-Star break approaching. After series wins against the Brewers and Yankees, the lineup looks October-ready. Pitching will need bulldog mentality until rock solid again. But in a city obsessed with baseball bragging rights, the Mets made one thing clear: Something special is brewing in Queens.