New York Mets bats exploded against rising star Skenes, forcing him out in the first. Baty's triple cleared the bases, igniting a huge offensive surge.
Opening Day for the New York Mets got off to a strong start in Queens against the Pittsburgh Pirates. After new ace right-hander Freddy Peralta gave up a two-run home run in the top of the first, he swiftly struck out three straight batters. Down 2-0 heading into the bottom of the first, the Mets needed to provide some relief at the plate.
Doing so against the 2025 National League Cy Young winner, Paul Skenes, would make that a hard goal to accomplish. Posting a 1.97 ERA in his sophomore season in 2025, Skenes is already in the upper echelon of the game’s starters. To put it simply, the Mets shouldn’t have had it easy to make up for Peralta’s two earned runs.
What is beautiful about baseball, however, is that any given player on the field can either have the best game of the season or the worst. Luckily for the Mets, the worst of the season came early for Skenes.
The Mets started the inning with a Francisco Lindor walk, followed by a line drive single by star outfielder Juan Soto, moving Lindor to third. Star free agent acquisition Bo Bichette brought in the first run for the Mets on a sacrifice fly to right that allowed Lindor to cross home, cutting the lead to one.
After Bichette’s RBI, new first baseman Jorge Polanco reached on a swinging bunt before moving to second after outfielder Luis Robert Jr. worked a walk. The bases were now loaded with just one out – the reigning Cy Young winner had his work cut out for him.
Unfortunately for Skenes, designated hitter Brett Baty did his best to prove he’s an important piece of the 2026 Mets, smashing one over the Pirates’ center fielder, Oneil Cruz, with the bases loaded. All three runners on base scored on Baty’s triple.
Mayhem continued for Pittsburgh, as Cruz again struggled in the outfield, allowing Baty to score off a Marcus Semien fly ball. Suddenly, the score read 5-2 in favor of the Mets.
Though Skenes was able to strike out Mets’ rookie Carson Benge, he hit catcher Francisco Alvarez with a pitch before being pulled from the game without being able to finish the first inning of his 2026 campaign. He ended the day with 37 pitches, allowing four hits, two walks, and allowing five earned runs.
The contest is still underway in New York, but the Mets’ dominant first inning at the plate in their opener is the best possible start a fan could dream of, especially against one of, if not the game’s best starting pitchers. Hopefully, it’s a sign of good things to come for the Mets in 2026.