With a commanding 12-3 victory in the Bronx on Wednesday night, the New York Mets have achieved a long-sought milestone: their first Subway Series sweep of the New York Yankees since 2013.
A Crucial Sweep
The Mets solidified their sweep by winning their two home games against the Yankees on June 25 and 26, followed by a narrow 3-2 victory at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday before closing out the series emphatically on Wednesday. Over the course of these four games, the Mets outscored their cross-town rivals 36-14, underscoring their dominance in this edition of the rivalry.
Historic Context
Historically, the Mets have struggled in interleague Subway Series matchups, winning only five out of the previous 28 series, while the Yankees have claimed victory in ten. Thirteen of these series ended in a split. This latest sweep is thus a significant achievement for the Mets, both in terms of their season and the broader context of their rivalry with the Yankees.
Offensive Prowess
The Mets' bats came alive in Wednesday’s game, hitting five home runs. Remarkably, three of these homers came off Yankees ace Gerrit Cole, whose performance has been impacted by a spring elbow injury that delayed his season debut until June 19. Francisco Lindor was particularly impressive, hitting two home runs, bringing his season tally to 21. Juan Soto provided one of the few bright spots for the Yankees, going 2-for-3 with a homer, a double, and a walk.
Pitching Woes
Gerrit Cole, once considered one of the most reliable pitchers in baseball, now holds a 5.40 ERA for the season. His struggles on the mound have been a significant factor in the Yankees' recent performance issues, which were further highlighted in their 6-12 record for the month of July.
The Mets on the Rise
This sweep underscores the turnaround the Mets have experienced since early June. On June 2, the Mets were languishing 11 games under .500. However, since then, they have gone on an impressive 29-13 run. With this recent surge, the Mets now boast a 53-48 record, standing five games over .500 for the first time this year.
Playoff Implications
The Mets’ recent success has significant playoff implications. They are currently in the second wild-card position in the National League and trail the second-place Braves in the NL East by only 1½ games. The Yankees, despite their recent struggles, remain in playoff contention and are within striking distance of the AL East-leading Orioles.
As the season approaches its final stretch, both New York teams have much to play for, but for now, the Mets hold bragging rights in the Big Apple.