Clay Cruises, Lindor Leadoffs, Alonso Drives, Soto Shines in Mets’ Sweep
The Mets finished off a four-game sweep of the Cardinals on Easter Sunday with a 7-4 win at Citi Field, powered by strong pitching, timely hitting, and late-inning clutchness from Juan Soto.
Francisco Lindor homers, Juan Soto drives in three, and the @Mets complete the four-game sweep. pic.twitter.com/JoMrYfrAOo
— MLB (@MLB) April 20, 2025
Leadoff Lindor
Francisco Lindor set the tone early, building on an exceptional spring and launching a leadoff home run off Sonny Gray—his third career homer against the veteran righty.
Lindor leads it off for the Mets with a homer! ☄️
(via @Mets)pic.twitter.com/LftEcFL5hF
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) April 20, 2025
It marked Lindor’s second long ball of the weekend and helped put a sluggish start (literally less than 30 at-bats) to his season firmly in the rearview. He finished 3-for-5 and is now hitting .271, with a .450 average leading off games this year.
A sparkler from Francisco Lindor to end the inning! pic.twitter.com/GiMmzCdQVc
— SNY (@SNYtv) April 20, 2025
Soto’s Sizzling Start, Taylor’s Fleet Feet
In the third, the Mets manufactured another run with heads-up baserunning and a perfectly executed gamble. After Tyrone Taylor singled and Lindor followed with another knock to put runners on the corners, Juan Soto stepped in.
Soto, who had struggled with runners in scoring position to start the year, lofted a shallow fly to left. Taylor tagged and beat Lars Nootbaar’s throw home by a step, giving the Mets a 2-0 edge and Soto a confidence-inducing RBI.
Kick-Change Clay Dominance (As Per Usual) and Nimmo’s Acrobatics Preserve Exceptional Start
With a lead in hand, Clay Holmes delivered his strongest start as a Met. He completed six innings for the first time this season, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out six.
Clay Day 💪@moomooApp | #LGM pic.twitter.com/anu9ONygZY
— New York Mets (@Mets) April 20, 2025
His only blemish came in the sixth, and it could’ve been worse if not for Brandon Nimmo’s leaping robbery at the wall that took away a two-run homer from Jordan Walker and ended the inning.
Get UP, @You_Found_Nimmo! pic.twitter.com/ZNPdvKxCIh
— New York Mets (@Mets) April 20, 2025
Scolding Hot Alonso and Deep Lineup Pile on the Hits
Pete Alonso tacked on an RBI single in the fifth to push the lead to 3-1, raising his NL-best RBI total to 24. But things got dicey in the seventh. After Danny Young allowed a hit and a walk, José Buttó was called on with two outs and surrendered a two-run double to Thomas Saggese that tied the game, 4-4.
Nimmo came right back in the bottom half with a go-ahead single off former Met Phil Maton to bring home Lindor, and the Mets never looked back. Luisangel Acuña sparked the eighth with a hustle double on a deflected grounder, Taylor followed with his second double of the afternoon, and Soto stepped up one more time.
3 RBI Soto Feels the Love from the Citi Field Faithful
He ripped a slicing double into center that plated two and put the game on ice. Soto finished with three RBI on the day and was named game MVP, but it was his postgame comments that hit just as hard. After receiving another standing ovation from the Citi Field crowd, Soto praised the fans and their impact:
Juan Soto gorgeous opposite field double
pic.twitter.com/gHHJoT0gJq— Mets’d Up Podcast (@MetsdUp) April 20, 2025
“It’s a great feeling when you have the fanbase supporting you when you’re doing bad, when you’re doing good — it’s just great,” Soto said after the game. “I really appreciate what they did. I feel like they don’t know how meaningful that is. It means a lot to the players when they do that. It’s really special.”
“I really appreciate what they did. I feel like they don’t know how meaningful that is. It means a lot to the players when they do that.”
Juan Soto was “100%” surprised when the Citi Field crowd gave him a standing ovation, but he says he deeply appreciated it pic.twitter.com/pluW6LTqXO
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) April 20, 2025
When discussing his standing ovation from Mets’ fans this weekend (after some controversial discourse sparked by a certain WFAN host),
“It’s been great, this crowd has been unbelievable day in and day out,” Soto told SNY’s Steve Gelbs postgame. “I really love the support. They’ve been great since day one, so thank you.”
“It’s been great, this crowd has been unbelievable day in and day out. I really love the support. They’ve been great since day one, so thank you.”
– Juan Soto with @SteveGelbs pic.twitter.com/y3nShNDefc
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) April 20, 2025
Talking about the more recent contacts he’s made with a “win the series mindset,” Soto stated that he and Manager Carlos Mendoza both agreed that something clicked with his swing during his two-run double at-bat.
“In the beginning, I was trying to go yard, but when he put me in the [two-strike] hole, I just tried to put the ball in play. He made a good pitch and I made a better swing,” Soto said.
Who would have thought cheering on your favorite team would help them play better? What a concept that is. Something about a 9-1 record at home with a multi-game packed house could have been energized by that fan love.
Luisangel Acuña Has Not Done Any Tweeting Today
In a lighthearted moment during Sunday’s game, the Mets’ scoreboard operator playfully referenced the Acuña family dynamics. As Luisangel Acuña stepped up to bat, the scoreboard displayed a message noting that he had not tweeted that day—a subtle nod to his brother, Ronald Acuña Jr.’s, earlier social media activity.
The Mets did a little trolling https://t.co/LtwEZRALIr pic.twitter.com/or08Ve2zaf
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) April 20, 2025
Ronald had stirred conversation by commenting on teammate Jarred Kelenic’s baserunning mishap, suggesting that he would have been benched for similar behavior. The Mets’ jest added a touch of humor to the game, highlighting the friendly rivalry and familial connections within the league.
Baby Boy Alonso
Pete Alonso’s 2025 campaign is shaping up to be one of the most defining years of his career, on and off the field. The Mets’ first baseman is leading the National League in RBI, continuing to anchor the heart of the lineup with the same ferocity he’s had since bursting onto the scene in 2019. With free agency looming and every at-bat under the microscope, Alonso hasn’t flinched.
Pete Alonso Jr. and Koa Lindor middle infield in 2045 I got chills pic.twitter.com/CrlKyWfrN7
— Sam (@SamxWoba02) April 21, 2025
(Can we take a second to imagine this post as foreshadowing?)
He’s looked locked in from the jump, delivering clutch knocks and setting the tone as both a power threat and clubhouse constant.
And now, he’s got even more to play for. Over the weekend, Pete and his wife Haley announced on Instagram that they’re expecting a baby boy later this year. It’s a milestone moment for the Alonso family, and one that adds a new layer to an already massive season.
Rival Phillies Coming to Town
The Mets have now won five straight, improved to 15-7, and head into Monday’s series opener against the Phillies with their biggest bat surging, the pitching is unbelievably stellar, and their fans at home showing up and showing out.
