Juan Soto’s Big Hit Sparks Mets’ Victory Over Opponents

NEW YORK — Juan Soto‘s crucial hit gave the New York Mets a much-needed boost in their game against the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday night at Citi Field. With the bases loaded and two outs in the fourth inning, Soto connected with a splitter, sending the ball soaring 399 feet at 108.3 mph. It bounced off the center field wall, providing the Mets with a lead they would not relinquish.

The hit, described by Soto as a moment where he thought, ‘Don’t catch it,’ marked a turning point in his recent performance. It was only Soto’s sixth hit with runners in scoring position this season, a statistic he had struggled with, going 5-for-40 prior to this game.

Despite earlier criticism regarding his hustle and body language, Soto maintained focus on his performance and the team’s objectives. ‘I don’t listen to any of that,’ Soto said after going 2-for-5 in the game, snapping an 0-for-10 skid. His batting average now stands at .241, and he holds a .792 OPS, numbers that fall short of his career highs.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza defended Soto, emphasizing that the player’s lack of production has been affected by bad luck, insisting that it’s only a matter of time before Soto finds his rhythm. ‘He’s too good of a player,’ Mendoza stated. ‘We know that sooner rather than later the results are going to be there.’

Soto’s underlying metrics support Mendoza’s confidence. He ranks among the top in the league for exit velocity, hard-hit percentage, expected slugging, and more. Following a recent adjustment in his batting order position, Soto has continued to show signs of improvement.

Saturday’s game marked another milestone for Soto, being the 30th time this season he reached base multiple times, currently tied for fourth in the majors. ‘Coming through with guys on definitely feels better after so many hard balls hit,’ Soto noted. ‘Seeing one land, yeah, it’s always good.’