Juan Soto’s Power Surge Lifts Mets Over Astros in Thrilling 3-1 Victory
HOUSTON — In a night filled with electric moments and tense battles, Juan Soto once again proved why he is one of the most feared hitters in baseball. The star outfielder crushed a towering home run in the sixth inning to power the New York Mets to a 3-1 victory over the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on Saturday night.
Soto’s game-changing blast came at a crucial moment when the Mets and Astros were locked in a 1-1 tie. With one out and a 2-1 count, Soto turned on a 96 mph fastball from Astros ace Framber Valdez, sending it deep into the right-field stands. The 420-foot rocket left the bat at an astonishing 110 mph, silencing the Houston crowd and energizing the Mets’ dugout.
“I was just looking for a good pitch to drive,” Soto said after the game. “I knew Valdez was attacking the zone, so I stayed patient and got the pitch I wanted. It felt great to put my team ahead.”
Mets’ Pitching Dominates, Shuts Down Astros’ Offense
While Soto’s home run provided the offensive spark, it was the Mets’ pitching staff that ensured victory. Right-hander Kodai Senga was in top form, delivering a masterful six-inning performance. Senga allowed just one run on four hits while striking out seven, effectively neutralizing the Astros’ dangerous lineup.
Senga’s only blemish came in the third inning when Alex Bregman lifted a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Jeremy Peña from third. But beyond that, Senga was dominant, mixing his sharp splitter with a blistering fastball to keep Houston’s hitters off balance.
“Everything was working tonight,” Senga said. “I felt strong, and the defense behind me was incredible. It’s always great to have run support, especially when it comes from a guy like Soto.”
After Senga exited the game, the Mets’ bullpen took over and was nearly untouchable. Left-hander Brooks Raley worked a scoreless seventh inning, followed by a dominant performance from Adam Ottavino in the eighth. Edwin Díaz then came in to close the game, retiring the Astros in order in the ninth to secure his fourth save of the season.
Astros Struggle to Capitalize on Opportunities
Despite putting runners on base in multiple innings, the Astros failed to deliver clutch hits against the Mets’ pitching. Houston left seven runners stranded and went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position, a frustrating trend that has plagued them in recent games.
“We had our chances, but we just couldn’t cash in,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “Credit to their pitching staff; they executed well and made big pitches when they needed to.”
Framber Valdez, who has been one of Houston’s most reliable starters, put together a solid outing but was ultimately tagged with the loss. The left-hander pitched seven strong innings, allowing just two runs on five hits while striking out eight. Aside from the mistake to Soto, Valdez was sharp and gave his team a chance to win.
“Sometimes, you make a good pitch, and a great hitter still finds a way to do damage,” Valdez said. “That’s baseball.”
Mets Stay Hot, Astros Look to Bounce Back
With the victory, the Mets improved their record to 5-2 on the season, continuing their strong start. Manager Carlos Mendoza praised his team’s performance, emphasizing their resilience and ability to execute in key moments.
“This was a great win against a really good team,” Mendoza said. “Soto stepped up, our pitching was phenomenal, and we played good, clean baseball. We just have to keep this momentum going.”
Meanwhile, the Astros, now 3-4, will look to regroup and avoid dropping the series finale on Sunday. With their offense struggling to find consistency, Espada hinted at possible lineup adjustments to spark production.
“We know we’re capable of better,” Espada said. “We’ll make the necessary tweaks and come out ready to compete.”
As the Mets and Astros prepare for the final game of the series, all eyes will be on Soto, who continues to deliver highlight-reel performances. If his bat stays hot, the Mets could be poised for another big win in Houston.
