Mets Survive Late Comeback Attempt to Defeat D-Backs 5-4

The Mets’ (23-13) bullpen, which was so good to start the year, has not looked the same lately. A near meltdown in the eighth inning almost sunk the Mets in their series opener against the Diamondbacks (18-17), but they were able to hang on for a 5-4 win.

The Mets entered the eighth inning with a seemingly comfortable 5-1 lead, but Dedniel Núñez was called on to pitch for his 2025 debut and did not look comfortable. Núñez worked a full count to and walked each of the first three batters to load the bases and bring the tying run to the plate. That prompted Carlos Mendoza to turn to Reed Garrett, a magician with runners on the bases this year, for his most difficult act yet.

Garrett couldn’t fully deliver, striking out Pavin Smith but then surrendering back-to-back base hits to bring the Diamondbacks within a run. Fortunately, bad baserunning by Josh Naylor kept the Diamondbacks from tying the game or taking the lead, and Garrett was able to get the final two outs of the inning with the Mets clinging to a 5-4 lead.

The Mets’ lead was built on two big home runs from Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor. Alonso’s home run came in the fourth inning and turned a 1-0 deficit, created by a Corbin Carroll leadoff home run in the first, into a 2-1 lead. Alonso added a hard-hit single later in the game to bring his average on the year up to .349 and his OPS to 1.143.

Lindor. Insurance. GOAT. pic.twitter.com/Vs78IXp6bE

— Metsmerized Online (@Metsmerized) May 6, 2025

The Mets’ lead remained 2-1 when Lindor launched his deep ball in the seventh to open up the game and put the Mets ahead 5-1. The home run came against Ryan Thompson, a righty sidearm thrower who stymied the Mets and earned a save his last time out on April 30, but Lindor was able to get the better of him this time to provide some insurance runs, which would prove to be massive just an inning later.

Before the Núñez debacle in the eighth inning, Mets pitching had looked great. Griffin Canning looked sharp despite immediately putting the Mets in a hole after Corbin Carroll hit a home run on the second pitch he threw. That was all he gave up, though, as he allowed just one run in five-plus innings. Following Canning, Huascar Brazobán tossed two perfect innings in the sixth and seventh innings, recording a strikeout in the process.

The Alonso and Lindor home runs, the strong performances from Canning and Brazobán, and the messy eighth inning set up Edwin Díaz for a save opportunity up one in the ninth inning. The play of the game occurred when the speedy Alek Thomas, who reached on a softly hit leadoff infield single, attempted to steal second base, but Francisco Lindor laid down a beautiful tag, just nicking Thomas’ foot to make him out.

Díaz then worked back from down 3-0 on Geraldo Perdomo to induce a flyout to left field before Corbin Carroll struck out to end the game. The game was relatively mellow for the first seven innings before the eighth and ninth innings reached uncomfortable levels of anxiety for the Mets, but they will take the win, which snaps their two-game skid.

Stat of the Game: Canning Breaks a Seven Year Drought

With his win, Griffin Canning became the first Mets pitcher to record a win in five straight starts since Zack Wheeler in 2018. Somehow, Jacob deGrom never achieved that feat, and neither did any other Mets pitcher over the last seven years. Yet Griffin Canning, just seven starts into his Mets career, has now recorded a win in five straight starts. The former Angel, who entered this season with a career 4.78 ERA, is now 5-1 with a 2.50 ERA.

Player of the Game: Francisco Lindor

Lindor’s three-run homer and potentially game-saving tag in the ninth inning made all the difference for the Mets. He continues to be invaluable for the Mets in every facet of the game, and this win is a prime example of why he’s a game-changing player. Lindor is batting .289 on the year with seven home runs, 22 RBIs, and a .830 OPS after Monday’s victory.

On Deck

The Mets will continue their series with the Diamondbacks on Tuesday, with the first pitch scheduled for 9:40 p.m. ET. David Peterson (2-1, 3.06 ERA), who made his last start against Arizona, allowing one run in five innings, will take the mound for New York with Zac Gallen (2-4, 4.93 ERA), who held the Mets to one run over six innings his last time out, going for the Diamondbacks. The game will air on SNY.

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