The Mets offense absolutely exploded at Citi Field on Monday night, turning a tight game into a runaway against the Atlanta Braves. After dropping their weekend series to the Dodgers, New York came out swinging, especially in the late innings, showing some serious early season firepower.
Rookie Thornton Fights Early Demons, Mets Bats Respond
This new series kicked off with some real drama for Mets rookie pitcher Zac Thornton, who’s been having a great first season in the major leagues. Ronald Acuña Jr. and Drake Baldwin hammered back-to-back singles to start things off for the Braves. After a Matt Olson double play, it looked like Thornton might get out of it, but then Ozzie Albies singled to Francisco Lindor, driving in the game’s first run and putting the Mets behind early. Thornton did get a strikeout to end the inning, but the Braves had already drawn first blood.
But hold up, because the Mets bats were already clicking. A.J. Ewing led off with a single, and then Francisco Lindor crushed a triple, almost a home run, to drive Ewing in and tie the game right away. Braves veteran starter Martín Pérez managed to stop the bleeding there, getting three straight outs, but the Mets showed everyone they weren’t going down without a fight. The second inning was quiet, but in the third, Ewing again singled and then stole second. Lindor then launched a home run, putting the Mets up by two runs. That lead didn’t last long, though, as Olson walked in the fourth, leading to an Albies two-run home run that tied the game. Thornton gave up a Michael Harris II single after the homer but then settled down, getting out of the inning with the game still tied.
From Tie Game to Total Domination: The Seventh Inning Explodes
The game stayed quiet for a few frames, with Pérez leaving after five innings. Connor Thomas came in to relieve him and immediately gave up a single to Tyrone Taylor, which honestly might have been an error. But then, Marcus Semien stepped up and hammered a two-run home run, putting the Mets back in front by two runs. Thomas gave up two more singles but managed to escape the inning without further damage.
Zac Thornton’s night ended after getting one out in the seventh. He finished allowing three runs on six hits and a walk, while striking out five, adding another solid outing to his stellar rookie campaign. Huascar Brazobán came in to relieve him and cruised through the rest of the inning. That’s when the Mets offense absolutely erupted! Francisco Alvarez walked, Jared Young singled, putting runners on the corners with nobody out. Then Tyrone Taylor hit *another* home run, pushing the Mets’ lead to five runs! The bases ended up loaded with just one out, and Bo Bichette drove in the Mets’ ninth run of the game with a sacrifice fly. Thomas finally got out of the inning, but the Mets had blown the game wide open with just two innings left to play. And the bottom of the eighth? The Mets lineup featured “even more fireworks.”
The Mets are showing serious grit and an undeniable offensive surge right now, especially with that kind of production from Lindor and Taylor. What happens next in this series against the Braves is anyone’s guess, but this kind of performance sets a serious tone for what’s ahead.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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