Nobody expected much from the Mets this season. They’re 34-41 and pretty much a mess. But Juan Soto keeps showing up anyway.
Thursday night in Philadelphia, Soto did what he does: two home runs, a sliding catch that robbed Bryce Harper of extra bases, and one more win for a team that hasn’t had many. The Mets beat the Phillies 6-4, and if you’re looking for a bright spot in a dark season, here he is.
The Record He’s Chasing
Here’s the thing about that second homer. It tied Soto with Mel Ott and Ralph Kiner for the most multi-homer games before turning 28 years old. That’s not a casual list. Ott and Kiner are Hall of Famers. Soto is 27. He’s got two more multi-homer games to tie the all-time record for that age group — and three to own it outright.
So yeah, he’s closing in on something real.
His first homer came in the top of the first. Solo shot, Mets up 1-0. They scored again in that inning, so it was a quick two-run lead. Soto’s second one came in the third, after Alec Bohm had cut the lead to one. That one restored the two-run margin. Classic Soto — patient at the plate, then sudden.
The Catch Nobody’s Talking Enough About
Honestly, the home runs got the headlines, but the catch might’ve been the bigger play. Fourth inning, Harper crushed a ball to left center that looked like extra bases for sure. Soto went into a full sprint, laid out, and caught it on the slide. The Phillies fans went quiet. Harper just stared. That’s the kind of play that doesn’t show up in a box score but changes a game’s momentum completely.
The Phillies tied it up anyway in the fourth. But the Mets answered late. Eric Wagaman and Marcus Semien drove in three runs combined, and the bullpen held it down from there.
Not pretty. But it counts.
What This Means for Soto’s Legacy
Soto’s got 21 homers now in 75 games. That’s on pace for 45 if he stays healthy. And with the All-Star break coming up, he’s a virtual lock to start in the outfield. The Mets might not make the playoffs — let’s be honest, they probably won’t — but Soto is putting together a season that’ll be remembered regardless. The Hall of Fame numbers are starting to pile up before he’s even 28.
Next up: Saturday night in Philly for game three of this four-game set. The Mets have a chance to win the series. And Soto has a chance to take another step toward that record.
He’s not done yet.
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