Jonah Tong Shines as Brandon Nimmo’s Three-Run Homer Lifts Mets

The New York Mets grabbed a convincing 6-1 win over the San Diego Padres on Thursday afternoon at Citi Field. Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo both went deep, rookie Jonah Tong impressed on the mound, and the bullpen shut things down late.

It felt like the kind of game where the team’s mix of veterans and young guys really clicked. With the win, the Mets now look ahead to a weekend faceoff with the Washington Nationals.

Alonso’s Historic Homer Streak Continues

Pete Alonso wasted no time making noise, blasting a 445-foot solo homer in the second inning. That shot made it four straight games with a home run for him, a new personal best.

It’s just another reminder of why Alonso’s one of the game’s top power threats. He really anchors the Mets lineup, and fans can’t help but expect something big every time he steps in.

Setting the Tone Early

Alonso’s homer gave the Mets some early juice against a Padres team that’s been searching for answers. Citi Field buzzed—Alonso just seems to find another gear when the spotlight’s on him.

The Padres’ Brief Rally and the Mets’ Swift Response

San Diego tied things up in the third, cashing in on a defensive slip for an unearned run off rookie Jonah Tong. The Mets punched right back in the bottom half.

Cedric Mullins and Francisco Lindor reached with singles. Juan Soto brought in Mullins with a groundout—his 100th RBI of the year, which is wild consistency from him.

Nimmo’s Career-High Power

With two on and the score at 2-1, Brandon Nimmo stepped up and hammered a three-run homer off Wandy Rodriguez. That’s Nimmo’s 24th homer of the year, tying his career high.

He’s showing he’s not just about getting on base—Nimmo’s become a real threat in the heart of the order.

Rookie Jonah Tong Delivers a Breakout Performance

Jonah Tong, just 22, looked composed after a shaky first inning. He settled in and struck out eight over five innings, giving up only one unearned run and four hits.

He joined rare company—the first Mets pitcher 22 or younger with eight-plus strikeouts since Noah Syndergaard in 2015. Not bad for a rookie still finding his footing.

Lockdown Bullpen Closes the Door

Once Tong left, the Mets bullpen took over and didn’t let up. Tyler Rogers, Brooks Raley, Gregory Soto, and Edwin Díaz each worked a scoreless inning, keeping the Padres quiet.

• Tyler Rogers handled the sixth with ease.
• Brooks Raley got three quick outs in the seventh.
• Gregory Soto flashed his stuff in the eighth.
• Edwin Díaz finished things with a strong ninth.

What’s Next for the Mets

With the series win over San Diego in the books, New York now faces the Washington Nationals this weekend. Friday’s opener brings Brandon Sproat to the mound against Andrew Alvarez.

The Mets want to ride that momentum. They’ll try to keep the bats hot and lean on their pitching depth, because at this point, every game counts in the standings.

For Mets fans, Thursday’s victory felt like more than just another notch in the win column. It showed the team’s resilience and a little bit of that balance they’ve been searching for all year.

If Alonso keeps mashing and Nimmo keeps coming through in big moments, who knows? Young arms like Tong are starting to pop up too, and maybe, just maybe, the Mets are setting up for a strong finish.

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Here is the source article for this story: Jonah Tong dominates, Brandon Nimmo smacks three-run homer in Mets’ huge win over Padres