The most surprising fact from Wednesday night in St. Petersburg is not that the New York Mets won, but how quickly they dismantled the Tampa Bay Rays. A monster double by Brett Baty in the third inning drove in three runs and nearly cleared the wall, turning a tight game into a blowout before the first pitch of the fourth. This offensive explosion happened on a night when both teams were counting on pitchers to return from injury, not bats to dominate. According to Amazin Avenue (SBN Mets), Baty’s hit missed a grand slam by just a few feet while doubling the Mets lead in a single swing.
A Wild First Inning in the Trop
Things started messy and stayed that way for the Rays. Early chaos defined the game when Jared Young’s single to right field brought home Bo Bichette for the opening run. Carson Benge crossed the plate and Young advanced to second after Liam Hicks’ errant throw at home bounced away, escalating the trouble. The Rays defense appeared disoriented before settling in as Marcus Semien’s double drove in Young for the Mets’ third run. Although A.J. Ewing grounded out to close the inning, the harm had already been inflicted. With a goal to win an away series against the Rays, the Mets saw their Wednesday night hope appear very real after just one frame.
Pitchers Return to the Mound
The narrative of the night centered on two pitchers making their comeback from the injured list. Justin Hagenman returned to the major league roster following months on the 60-day injured list due to a fractured rib. Griffin Jax, also returning from the injured list, faced the Mets in a matchup promising a battle of fresh arms. Those hopes vanished fast. Griffin Jax, the Rays starter, was removed by Baty in under three full innings, ending his night before finding his rhythm. Steven Matz entered to record the final out and halt the damage for the Rays, attempting to salvage the remainder of the inning.
MLB.com reports Hagenman managed to hold the line for New York. He recorded two strikeouts while giving up two hits and a walk for one run across three innings pitched. Hagenman struck out two over three innings. This was also the end of his night, as the team pulled him after a solid performance. Taylor Walls scored on Jonathan Aranda’s RBI single for the Rays’ first run, but it proved too little, too late versus the Mets offense.
The Series Shifts in Florida
The result was a clear victory for the Mets in a hostile environment. The team secured a series win by exploiting early mistakes and capitalizing on the return of key players. While the Rays struggled to get outs, the Mets bats were ready to go. The night proved that even with pitchers returning from injury, the lineup can still carry the team when the defense breaks down. The Mets secured the series win and returned home to face the Giants. The momentum is clearly with New York after such a dominant showing in Tampa.
