For a moment, it felt like the type of game that could linger painfully—a single mistake, one off-target pitch, and the Pirates might have walked away with the win. But this time, the New York Mets didn’t crack under pressure. They bent just enough to show why they belong among the league’s best.
Their 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night, marking their third straight win, wasn’t a highlight-reel performance. Instead, it was the kind of hard-fought, grind-it-out game that strong teams manage to pull off.
In a matchup full of pressure and narrow escapes, it was the Mets who maintained their composure.
Baty’s bat speaks volumes as the infield crowd thickens
Brett Baty isn’t merely making a case for consistent playing time—he’s demanding it with authority. While the Mets’ infield is crowded with talent, Baty’s performance at the plate is making it impossible to ignore him.
On Tuesday, with the game tied at one, Baty delivered a go-ahead home run that sailed to the opposite field with pinpoint precision, like a perfectly fired arrow.
It was his fifth home run of the season—and possibly his most impactful—providing the margin in a game where mistakes were few and costly.
Baty is now slashing .239/.270/.521. While those numbers may not jump off the page, they suggest something more significant: progress.
The game appears to have slowed down for him, and he’s capitalizing on key opportunities. His swing decisions are more refined, and his confidence is evident. This is the player the Mets envisioned, and that long-held faith is starting to pay off.
Senga quietly dominates with poise and punchouts
Kodai Senga didn’t bring his most overpowering arsenal to the mound Tuesday night—but he didn’t need to. What he did bring was poise, using his veteran-like calm to work around traffic and escape trouble with the skill of a practiced escape artist.
Over 5.2 innings, Senga allowed six hits and two walks while striking out seven. The only run he gave up felt more like a blemish than a blow.
He wasn’t overpowering, but he was clever—outlasting and outmaneuvering a Pirates lineup that never quite found its rhythm.
With a sparkling 1.22 ERA on the season, Senga has quietly become a cornerstone of the Mets’ rotation. In a pitching staff that’s finding its stride, he’s setting the tone—one pitch, one outing at a time.
Like a master craftsman fitting precise gears into place, Senga’s control and composure are keeping the Mets steady in tightly contested games.
Diaz embraces the pressure and delivers again
The best closers in baseball don’t just handle pressure—they thrive in it. Edwin Díaz, fueled by his signature intensity, looked completely in control amid the chaos.
The ninth inning brought its share of drama—a Francisco Lindor error and a walk that stirred some tension—but Díaz stayed locked in, closing the door with a clutch game-ending groundout.
With his ninth save of the season secured, Díaz is once again looking every bit the dominant force the Mets envisioned.
Over his last seven outings, he’s thrown 7.1 shutout innings, racking up three saves and nine strikeouts without allowing a single run.
The swagger has returned. So has the confidence—and the signature fist pump. In May, Edwin Díaz hasn’t just found his footing again—he’s caught fire.
Mets finding momentum as May rolls on
Winners in five of their last six, the Mets have shifted gears—they’re no longer just staying afloat, they’re moving forward with intent. Tuesday’s tight win may not have been flashy, but it fits into a growing theme: this team is learning how to grind out the tough ones.
It’s a reminder that a season isn’t shaped solely by dominant wins or highlight plays. Often, it turns on a timely swing, a perfectly placed pitch, or the ability to stay composed when it counts. On Tuesday, the Mets delivered all three.
