Livescore
Out of nowhere, it seems, Luisangel Acuña has provided a shot of adrenaline the Mets needed after slumping offensively in recent days and losing their superstar shortstop as well.
Acuña had been so underwhelming at Triple-A this season, after all, that the Mets’ brass passed on him as a September call-up in favor of Pablo Reyes and then Eddy Alvarez, a couple of journeymen utility players.
Only the back injury to Francisco Lindor convinced the Mets they needed more athleticism to fill in at shortstop and so they brought up Acuña.
As one Mets person told me on Tuesday, “We know he’s got the talent. We’re hoping he’s one of those guys who raises his game at the highest level. He has the ability to do it and he looks comfortable with the bright lights.”
And that was before Acuña went out Tuesday and lit up Citi Field with a dazzling offensive night. The rookie helped spark the Mets to a 10-1 romp over the Washington Nationals that felt like a party, with the crowd roaring not only at all the offense but at the sight of the Atlanta Braves’ loss to the Cincinnati Reds going final on the scoreboard.
“We didn’t know what was going on at first,” Pete Alonso said of the crowd reaction. “We thought it was some fans being rowdy or something. Then we saw the score. It’s great that they’re into it so much.”
Yes, it was that type of night at the ballpark. Finally, the Mets piled on the offense en route to a laugher that became that much sweeter with the Braves’ loss, resulting in a two-game lead for the third Wild Card spot.
Once again it all started with pitching, as Tylor Megill delivered a second straight dominant start, allowing one unearned run over six innings, continuing this run of masterful starting pitching that has carried the Mets of late.
This month, in fact, the rotation has a 1.96 ERA, the best in the majors in September.
And then there was Alonso, having the type of breakout offensive game the Mets have been waiting for, as he went 3-for-5 with a three-run home run and five RBIs, offering reason to believe he can help carry the Mets offensively down the stretch.
As it was, Alonso was showing signs with the bat, with six hits over his last four games. But now he’s 9-for-20 over his last five, with two home runs, so maybe this will be his long-awaited power streak for 2024 as he heads for free agency.
Perhaps that was on his mind when he spoke to the team during a team meeting that Carlos Mendoza called as a pick-me-up for the players after the Lindor injury. Alonso urged his teammates to make the most of this opportunity, as the New York Post reported.
“I just wanted to say something to the fellas,” Alonso said after Tuesday’s game. “I’m really fired up about this opportunity.”
And still with all of that, Megill’s brilliance, Alonso’s big night, it seemed secondary to the show Acuña put on, displaying some lightning bat speed and power one night after impressing the Mets by making plays with his glove at shortstop in the late innings with the game on the line.
His double to the left-center gap in the third inning broke the ice for the sputtering Mets’ offense, driving in Harrison Bader to tie the game at 1-1 and then spark a four-run inning. Later he added a line single to center and then a bomb of a home run to left field that got the attention of one Keith Hernandez, calling the game for SNY.
“Wow,” said Keith. “Quick bat. That was a line drive.”
A line drive that he couldn’t quite believe carried 414 feet.
Yes, that’s some quick-twitch bat speed that couldn’t help but remind you of his brother, 2023 NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr., who is missing this season with the Braves because of a knee injury.
The younger brother has never been considered to have that same type of MVP talent, especially in the power department, which is why the Texas Rangers were willing to trade him in the Max Scherzer deal last summer.
Still, the Mets were thrilled to get him and then a bit disappointed by his play in Syracuse this season as he hit .258 and a .654 OPS. He had 20 doubles, six triples and seven home runs, as well as 40 stolen bases in 54 attempts, in 131 games played.
“I saw him a few times when he did things that made your eyes pop,” a scout told me at the time of Acuña’s call-up on Saturday. “He’s just explosive athletically on offense and defense.
“But there were other times you got the sense he was kind of coasting on his talent because he should have put up better numbers than he did (in Triple-A). He carried himself with confidence so I wouldn’t be shocked if he has an impact right away.”
By late Tuesday night, those words sounded prophetic. Maybe it has something to do with having a brother who is a major league superstar.
As Luisangel said after the game, “My brother helped me know what to expect when I got here.”
Whatever it is, he’s making a strong impression.
“He looks like he belongs in the big leagues,” Mendoza said. “And then the way the ball jumps off his bat, that gets your attention. He’s a kid who seems pretty mature. It doesn’t matter the situation. He’s just playing his game.”
Megill, who played with Acuña in Triple-A, said he wasn’t surprised at the rookie’s instant impact.
“He’s really confident and aggressive the way he plays,” said Megill. “He likes to swing the bat.”
On the other hand, he doesn’t walk much, and that could catch up with him when pitchers stop challenging him and start seeing if he’ll chase pitches off the plate. Scouts said that was a problem for him at times in Triple-A, as indicated by his .299 on-base percentage.
But that’s for down the road. For now, Acuña is exactly the blast of Red Bull the Mets need to help awaken their bats and win games while Lindor is out with a back injury.
Wow indeed.
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