Mets ride hot start, Jonah Tong's impressive debut in historic performance

A two-run homer in the bottom of the first from star outfielder Juan Soto — his 33rd of the season — gave the Mets the early advantage and immediately gave Tong some run support.

This three-run shot from outfielder Brandon Nimmo moments later — his first of two deep balls in the game — gave the Mets five runs to open the game without a single out recorded.

First baseman Pete Alonso kicked off a seven-run second inning with a two-run homer to right, giving him 110 RBIs for the season, which is second only to Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber (119).

A two-run double from shortstop Francisco Lindor put the Mets up 12-0 in the second frame and represented the ninth straight batter to reach base safely.

After a six-run eighth inning to punctuate the historic night, every starter recorded at least one hit and scored at least one run. With six strikeouts and only one earned run allowed through five innings from Tong, it was an extremely balanced night for the Mets.

Despite the Mets (73-62) adding another win a few games removed from sweeping their NL East rival Phillies, the playoff races across the league seem to have already taken shape. 

The Mets remain five games behind Philadelphia for first-place in the division, but now hold a five-game lead over the Cincinnati Reds for the final wild-card spot after Cincinnati fell 7-5 in 10 innings to the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night.

While it will be a tall task to erase a five-game deficit in the NL East race this late in the season, the Mets are in good shape in the wild-card race. It will be difficult to replicate what they did on Friday every game, but if they can at least get a fraction of that type of performance, the Mets should be a playoff team come October.