DETROIT — Don’t say we didn’t warn you, Detroit.
“You always gotta go with Juan Soto with the Mets and especially against Charlie Morton.
I feel like this is the prime match for Soto to pull into the seats in right field, right behind me.
So when you’re looking at the situation with Soto, he’s been playing really well. He is on the verge of a 30–30 season, which nobody saw coming.
And he will suit up for the Dominican Republic in the WBC.”
That was the prediction before first pitch at Comerica Park. Hours later, Soto made it a reality. He blasted a grand slam in the fourth, then ripped a triple in the sixth, finishing with six RBIs to carry the Mets past the Tigers 10–8 on Labor Day.
In fact, if you watched World Baseball Network’s preview live from Comerica Park during batting practice, yours truly even told you where Soto was gonna plop that home run. I called that shot like Ruth. But back to the real legends…
The Mets trailed 3–2 with two outs in the fourth when Soto turned on a pitch from Charlie Morton and crushed it into right center. His 36th homer of the season was a grand slam, and Comerica went silent except for the Mets fans who made themselves heard.
In the sixth Soto did it again. With Luis Torrens on base and Francisco Lindor hit by a pitch, Soto drove a ball down the right field line and hustled to third for his first triple of the year. Both runs scored and the Mets pushed the lead to 8–6. Soto later scored on Brandon Nimmo’s RBI single.
A TWO-RUN TRIPLE FOR JUAN SOTO!
HE HAS 6 RBI! pic.twitter.com/syysI33Xdb
— SNY (@SNYtv) September 1, 2025
He finished 2-for-3 with two walks, six RBIs, and seven total bases. His line now sits at 36 home runs, 90 RBIs, 26 stolen bases, and a .915 OPS.
Luis Torrens had three hits including a two-run double in the second. Jeff McNeil doubled and scored twice. Lindor swiped his 27th bag. Luisangel Acuña came in as a pinch runner in the seventh, stole second, and scored an insurance run.
Detroit kept countering. Jahmai Jones homered to start the game and later added an RBI single.
Wenceel Pérez hit a two-run shot. Zach McKinstry tripled home a run. But Cedric Mullins’ full-extension diving catch in center killed a rally in the sixth, and the bullpen pieced it together until Edwin Díaz closed it, albeit dicey, with career save number 250.
“There was a lot of offense today, 18 total runs,” I said after the game. “Soto had one of his best games in a Mets uniform and carried them to victory. They do not win without him because they gave up eight runs.”
Díaz nearly let it slip when Spencer Torkelson and Riley Greene just missed big swings in the ninth, but the closer shut the door. Jones and Pérez went deep off Sean Manaea, who had no answers, but the story remained Soto.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told the media Soto belongs in the MVP talk.
“When you look at the numbers he’s in the discussion. I said it when he didn’t make the All-Star Game that it was ridiculous. It’s amazing when you look at what he’s doing and there’s still a month left. He is an elite hitter and a complete player and what you’re getting on the bases and defensively it’s impressive.”
Mendoza added, “Nobody expected him to do what he’s doing on the bases and when he gets hot he’s the type of guy that can carry a team.”
Charlie Morton, who gave up the grand slam, admitted Soto is a nightmare matchup.
“He’s got a really good idea for the zone and he’s really good bat to ball. He’s got a real flat bat path and he’s got pop. He’s a smart hitter and I think he’s got a really good idea of what each guy is trying to do. That’s what makes him one of the best hitters in the game.”
Morton went further, “Definitely not the ideal guy you want to face with bases loaded. I’m one pitch away and then he does what he does. I’ve gotten to face him now basically ever since he came up. I really like the way he plays the game, his approach at the plate, and I really like what he’s done for the game. He’s great for baseball.”
