Behind scenes with NY Mets and Mariners at MLB Little League Classic
The Little League Classic was a day chock full of events for the Mets and Mariners on Aug. 17, 2025, in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
ATLANTA — The Mets had one final level to clear before they could claim what had felt like an unattainable prize for the last nine seasons.
Over the history of Truist Park, the Mets’ trips had often been met with disappointment. In the opening two games of their series with the Braves this weekend, the Mets had opened the door to a feat they had never achieved since the Braves moved north of downtown Atlanta.
But in a golden opportunity to claim their first sweep of the Braves at Truist Park, Gregory Soto suffered his first letdown as a member of the Mets, giving up two runs in the eighth as the Mets dropped the series finale to the Braves, 4-3, in front of 34,393 fans on Sunday in Atlanta.
In a tie game in the eighth, Soto gave up a leadoff single to Ozzie Albies before picking up two straight outs. But he could not pick up the final out without the ultimate damage being done. Soto walked Sean Murphy and hit Vidal Brujan before giving up a two-run single to Jurickson Profar into center field.
After knocking 21 hits on Friday and tagging six home runs on Saturday, the Mets offense largely fell quiet on Sunday afternoon. They knocked three hits off Braves closer Raisel Iglesias, including an RBI ingle by Juan Soto, but could not add any more.
Through the opening eight innings, the lone score was provided by Mark Vientos, who blasted a two-run home run in the second inning. Over the next six innings, the Mets left eight runners on base and were 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
The Mets had to settle for their lone series victory over the Braves as they slipped to 69-61 on the season, entering a major three-game series with the Phillies beginning on Monday night at Citi Field. The Phillies will carry a seven-game edge in the NL East heading into that series.
David Peterson scuffles in sixth inning
Entering this weekend, David Peterson had served as the anomaly to a Mets starting rotation that consistently could not get deep into games for two and a half months.
While the rest of the Mets’ rotation had zero starts of at least six innings between June 7 and Friday, Peterson had tossed at least six innings in nine of his 12 starts.
On the heels of back-to-back lengthy outings by Nolan McLean and Clay Holmes, the left-hander was cruising into the sixth inning in the finale. He had only allowed three singles and a walk through the opening five frames but the final frame proved to be the stumbling block for Peterson.
With two outs and a runner on first, Peterson gave up a bloop single to Michael Harris II, walked Nacho Alvarez Jr. to load the bases and then gave up a game-tying two-run single to Sean Murphy.
Mendoza pulled Peterson at 5⅔ innings and 98 pitches. Brooks Raley picked up the final out of the inning as Peterson finished with two earned runs allowed on five hits and four walks with eight strikeouts.
Mark Vientos’ torrid stretch continues
Throughout the 2025 season, the Mets have been hoping that Mark Vientos could return to the form that saw him rip 27 home runs with a .266 batting average in 2024.
Vientos is beginning to reclaim that potential at the plate in the season’s most important stage.
On Sunday afternoon, the Mets third baseman continued his recent surge, lining a go-ahead two-run home run into the left-center field seats. It was Vientos’ third long ball in as many at-bats dating back to Saturday night.
During a ongoing seven-game hitting streak, Vientos is 10-for-24 with five home runs, 11 RBI, six runs and two doubles. He now has 12 home runs and 43 RBI on the season while slashing .238/.284/.404.