BRONX, N.Y. — The Bronx was buzzing Friday night as a sellout crowd of 47,700 packed Yankee Stadium to witness Juan Soto’s highly anticipated return — but it was the Yankees who stole the show, defeating the Mets 6-2 in the first Subway Series matchup of the season.
Soto, now wearing Mets blue after signing a historic 15-year, $765 million deal, heard it from the crowd with loud boos echoing throughout the stadium. In response, he tipped his helmet and touched it to his chest in a show of respect. At the plate, Soto had a quiet night, drawing three walks and going hitless in his other at-bats.
Carlos Rodón (5-3) led the way on the mound for the Yankees, delivering five solid innings and allowing just one run on two hits. The Mets’ only run off Rodón came in the fourth, when Brandon Nimmo singled in Soto.
Paul Goldschmidt and Cody Bellinger provided the offensive spark for New York. Goldschmidt drove in two runs, while Bellinger added three hits to help fuel a four-run third inning that broke the game open. Anthony Volpe chipped in with a sacrifice fly, and Oswaldo Peraza drew a bases-loaded walk as the Yankees capitalized on Mets starter Tylor Megill’s wild outing.
Megill (3-4) lasted only 2 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on four hits and five walks — including a 39-pitch second inning that saw him lose command and the lead.
A key moment came in the third when Francisco Lindor’s off-balance throw pulled Pete Alonso off the bag for an error, allowing a second run to score. That marked Lindor’s seventh error of the season.
The Yankees bullpen sealed the win, highlighted by Jonathan Loáisiga’s emotional return after missing over a year recovering from elbow surgery. He tossed a scoreless sixth before Yerry De Los Santos and Luke Weaver closed it out. Weaver earned his fifth save in six chances, retiring Soto with two on in the ninth to end it.
Key Stats:
Soto’s three walks were a season high.
Lindor’s error total climbed to seven, just five shy of his 2024 total.
The Mets left nine runners on base and went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
Up Next:
The Subway Series continues Saturday with Yankees right-hander Clarke Schmidt (1-1, 4.73 ERA) set to face Mets ace Griffin Canning (5-1, 2.36 ERA) in Game 2 of this six-game rivalry showdown.
