The New York Mets celebrated a historic series sweep of the San Diego Padres, their first in 18 years, with a lively display of hugs, high-fives, and handshakes.
Just two weeks ago, the team was at a low point, but they have since turned their season around, winning 11 of their last 15 games. Despite a subpar record of 33-37, the Mets find themselves in the thick of the National League wild card race, just 1.5 games back of a playoff spot with 57% of the season remaining.
Francisco Lindor, the team’s star shortstop, attributed the turnaround to the players’ belief in themselves. “I thought we always were in the postseason race. It’s just some people had us out,” Lindor said. “But in my mind, I feel like we got the team.
We have the personnel.” Pete Alonso, the team’s power-hitting first baseman, echoed Lindor’s sentiments, saying, “We’re starting to come into ourselves, understand our identity, and hit our stride a little bit.”
The Mets’ resurgence has been marked by strong performances from Alonso and Lindor, as well as a improved team effort. Despite a middling offense and a 20th-ranked ERA, the team has found ways to win, including a thrilling 11-6 victory on Sunday. Manager Carlos Mendoza praised his team’s resilience, saying, “Those are some of the games that we were losing in May, and today we found a way.”
The Mets’ sweep of the Padres marked a turning point in their season, and they now head to Texas with renewed confidence and a sense of purpose. As Lindor said, “We just got to keep on climbing the mountain.”