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<\/p>\nSummer 2025 is shaping up to be a thrilling season for sports in the Big Apple, as “Bing Bong” energy has culminated from multiple directions.<\/p>\n
Not only are the New York Knicks appearing in the NBA’s Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in a quarter century, but the New York Yankees (27-19) and New York Mets (29-18)\u00a0\u2014\u00a0both leading their respective divisions\u00a0\u2014\u00a0just wrapped up a contentious Subway Series over the weekend.<\/p>\n
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New York Mets right fielder Juan Soto between pitches at Yankee Stadium.John Jones-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
Major League Baseball’s inaugural “Rivalry Weekend” brought all the adversity in the Bronx, especially toward<\/a> Mets outfielder Juan Soto.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Of course, Soto was a member of last year’s AL pennant-winning Yankee team. However, the Dominican slugger elected to sign in Queens during the recent offseason, making Friday his first visit back to the short porch in right field.<\/p>\n Not only did the raucous Yankee Stadium crowd scream at the Metropolitans’ high-priced right fielder without relent, but on Sunday, one particular player in pinstripes made supporters in the Bronx overjoyed to have gone a different direction in regards to Soto.<\/p>\n Former-MVP Cody Bellinger joined the Yankees for 2025 (via trade<\/a>) after eight campaigns in the National League. Bellinger used last night to produce his pinnacle moment in pinstripes so far by launching a cascading two-out grand slam in the eighth inning of Sunday’s rubber match off Mets pitcher Ryne Stanek, providing the Yanks with an 8-2 insurance policy.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Ironically, the lefty’s slam sailed into the right-field bleachers, leaving Soto looking directly up at the homer. It was all part of a 3-3, 6 RBI outing for Bellinger.<\/p>\n Related: Knicks Star Sends 1-Word Message to Cody Bellinger Amid Mets’ Loss to Yankees<\/a><\/p>\n The novelty of the eighth-inning blast to the “Bleacher Creatures” was noticed by Yankee media members and fans alike. Jake Asman of 880 ESPN New York wrote on X<\/a> (the platform formerly known as Twitter), “Fitting that the guy that replaced Soto hits the grand slam over his head to ice the game for the Yankees…”<\/p>\n Baseball is Dead by Underdog added<\/a> to a screenshot of ESPN’s broadcast with a young Yankee fan holding Bellinger’s home-run ball, captioned, “Chirping Soto after Bellinger hits a Grand Slam with your son holding the ball >.”<\/p>\n As noted, the Bronx Bombers won Sunday by a score of 8-2, taking the first Subway Series of 2025 along with it. Meanwhile, Bellinger\u00a0\u2014 who plays left field for New York\u00a0\u2014 is playing solidly behind a .342 weighted on-base average (per FanGraphs<\/a>).<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n On May 19, Belli is second on the team in RBI (28), fifth in home runs (7) and fourth in total runs scored (25). Compared to $765-million Soto, Bellinger also features more defensive flexibility and far, far less investment.<\/p>\n