Gritty Mets Battle in 4–2 Loss to Diamondbacks, Soto Breaks Citi Field Seal with a Pair of Home Runs
Juan Soto finally left the yard at Citi Field—not once, but twice—but the Mets couldn’t complete the comeback in Thursday’s 4–2 loss to the Diamondbacks, dropping back-to-back home games for the first time since July 2024.
Senga Bump Day
Kodai Senga got the start and struck out three in two innings, but things got dicey in the third and fourth as traffic started piling up.
After escaping a bases-loaded jam with a punchout of Pavin Smith to end the third, he couldn’t do so unscathed in the following. Alek Thomas ripped an RBI single to center to open the scoring for Arizona.
Senga’s punchouts are heavily reliant on his devastating—and frankly, unhittable—”ghost” fork. But there’s a noticeable tip in the scale from Ks to generating ground balls for outs—this could indicate a cautiousness due to this slow ramp-up and limiting of extended outings. Nonetheless, he looked composed, and his stuff is as nasty as ever.
Nimmo’s Acrobatics Keep Game Close
That inning could’ve unraveled completely if not for Brandon Nimmo’s leaping grab at the wall, stealing a would-be grand slam from Corbin Carroll with another Citi Field highlight from the outfield.
BRANDON NIMMO ROBS A GRAND SLAM
pic.twitter.com/wypAzsK9Xs— Mets’d Up Podcast (@MetsdUp) May 1, 2025
Senga’s outing wrapped after 87 pitches (50 strikes) across four innings—one earned run on five hits, three walks, six Ks. His ERA ticked up to 1.38, but Senga flashed his usual filth even on a “little bit off” day.
Senga-Genesis, Kranick’s Extended Relief
Génesis Cabrera made his Mets debut in the fifth and immediately got welcomed with a walk and a Josh Naylor double that hit the orange line of the outfield wall but stayed in the yard after review.
Max Kranick came in to relieve Cabrera in the same inning, just after Naylor’s double, and showcased how he continues to be one of the Mets’ most valuable and reliable arms—bridging innings and bailing out tough spots.
After inheriting a jam, Kranick limited the damage to just a sac fly before settling in for 2.2 innings of steady relief.
He gave up a solo shot to Geraldo Perdomo in the seventh, but once again gave the Mets exactly what they needed: length, efficiency, and poise. In a bullpen that’s been leaned on heavily, Kranick’s consistency has been a backbone to their pitching dominance—and a big reason the staff continues to carry its weight.
What Pressure? Soto Knocks Two to Break Citi Field Seal
Offensively, Mets’ bats were a bit quiet against Zac Gallen, who entered with a 5.57 ERA.
Outside of a Pete Alonso single in the first, the Mets had nothing going until Juan Soto stepped in during the sixth. One out, nobody on, Soto turned on an 89mph dead-center cutter, launching his first home run as a Met at Citi Field to left-center field.
Juan Soto raises the apple for the first time 🍎 pic.twitter.com/a7WiDgP08j
— MLB (@MLB) May 1, 2025
Facing Kevin Ginkel in the eighth, Soto wasn’t done. The 26-year-old phenom capped off a nine-pitch AB by crushing a 95mph four-seamer for his second moonshot of the day—a left field line drive that cut the D-backs’ lead back down to 3–2.
Soto, whose OPS now sits at .822, clarified that comfort has returned at the plate with two monster swings on Thursday afternoon.
Juan Soto leaves the yard AGAIN 🔥 pic.twitter.com/39SBEnSzCY
— MLB (@MLB) May 1, 2025
“It feels good always to come through to help the team,” Soto said. “When I’m hitting the ball well that way, I feel [like] things are starting to get better for me at the plate. I start seeing the ball better and deeper and it’s a good sign.”
“What pressure? I don’t have any pressure,” he added. “Mendoza has been really clear with me to make me feel comfortable and going out there to play. It’s just two homers that weren’t enough to get the win.”
Winker Continues Effective ABs with Another Long Ball
Still, the Mets kept applying pressure. Jesse Winker doubled in the eighth, continuing to grind out at-bats with (what looks like) a new stance that has him nearly on the back edge of the box.
A long double for Jesse Winker! pic.twitter.com/622NBxXu9H
— SNY (@SNYtv) May 1, 2025
His recent work focusing on pulling the ball the other way seems to be sticking—he’s seeing everything well and working deep counts.
After Winker’s double and a walk by Alonso, the Mets had two in scoring position with one out, but Mark Vientos and Nimmo went down swinging to end the threat.
Enter Garrett, Adcock Closes
Reed Garrett entered in the eighth and was set to appear through the ninth, despite Edwin Díaz being warm and ready. Garrett had thrown a clean eighth but gave up a solo shot to Tim Tawa in the top of the ninth to make it 4–2—his first earned run allowed all season, and a rally-cap provocation as the D-backs re-extended their lead.
Manager Carlos Mendoza’s decision to stick with Garrett (and pivot to Adcock) in the ninth instead of turning to Díaz showcases his intelligent, long-haul philosophy. It’s May, not October, and the Mets were [then] trailing by only a run.
Even after Díaz had been warming, he opted to preserve his closer’s workload for a higher-leverage spot down the road. Longevity matters over 162, and Mendoza’s bullpen management has reflected that measured approach so far this season and last.
Rally Tender
Among the few things not lost: the Mets’ dugout made the perfect stage for a half-eaten piece of chicken that I personally couldn’t keep my eyes off all game.
There is a chicken nugget on the dugout pic.twitter.com/5leffz3hf9
— Gab (@gabrielleraucci) May 1, 2025
Combine that with Griffin Canning, Sean Manaea, and Tylor Megill all sporting rally caps—I think it’s safe to say that “rally tender” could’ve had just a little magic in it, given Soto’s pair of home runs on the day.
Even with the loss, the Mets are 21–11 overall and 13–3 at home. They are still in full control of the NL East, three games up, and starting pitching, defense, and clutch hitting are all anchoring the early-season surge.
“I feel like we’ve been doing a really good job,” Soto said. “We gotta give credit to our bullpen and the starting pitching – they’ve been great. We have a couple of guys out who are hurt, but they’ve been showing up everyday day in and day out since day one so really happy, really excited to play behind those guys.”
Juan Soto was asked if today’s home runs take any weight or pressure off him:
“What pressure? I don’t have any pressure.” pic.twitter.com/q7IKwbxqzp
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) May 1, 2025
“Look where we’re at,” he added. “We just gotta keep doing the same thing we’ve been doing since Day 1. Try to get on, get them over, get them in. That’s all we gotta do.”
These Mets are staying in every single game—and there’s so much to be excited about. They’re playing complete, fundamentally sound baseball across the board: dominant starting pitching, versatile offense, airtight defense, and smart, aggressive baserunning. The formula is working, and this group hasn’t yet hit its full stride.
