Carlos Mendoza issues challenge to Mets after series win over Yankees

The New York Mets stunned the New York Yankees in the final game of the first Subway Series of 2026 on Sunday when Mets outfielder Tyrone Taylor hit a game-tying three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to send the contest to extra innings. Mets outfielder Carson Benge then delivered a walk-off infield hit in the bottom of the 10th to propel the Mets to a 7-6 victory and to their fifth win in six games. 

Shortly after the Mets improved to 20-26 in what's been a disappointing campaign for the club, manager Carlos Mendoza challenged his players to build upon what they achieved at Citi Field over the past week.

Mets rallied back in more ways than one against the Yankees

"Baseball's hard to explain at times," Mendoza said during his postgame comments, per Colin Martin of SNY. "Now, we continue to come back in games. We get down early, we showed the whole homestand. We get down, we get punched in the face, we get back up. And today was the perfect example. When, like I said, we didn't play our best game, we are still able to shake hands at the end. I mean, whether it's get that off your shoulders or not, I think the most important part is we're winning games and we're winning series. I think it was a good homestand."

A Mets team that was already in the middle of a worrisome injury crisis received brutal news when it was learned that starting pitcher Clay Holmes will be out for "a long time" due to the fractured fibula he suffered when he was hit by a line drive during Friday's 5-2 loss to the Yankees. As Chelsea Janes of SNY noted, the Mets may turn to prospect Zach Thornton to temporarily take Holmes' spot in the rotation. 

Carlos Mendoza knows the Mets are still in a big hole 

"We know we got to start playing better, period. It's been rough," Mendoza continued during his comments. "But that's in the past. Now, all we know, all we can control is every game, every series. The mentality of winning series. We did that this homestand, and we got to continue to do it. There's long ways to go, but it's important for us to just continue to carry that momentum and just take it one day at a time. The mentality to win series moving forward."

The Mets notched a sweep of the Detroit Tigers before the National League East club took two of three games from a Yankees side seen by some as the favorites to represent the American League in this year's World Series. On Monday evening, the Amazins will open a four-game series at the Washington Nationals (23-24).

"Not only we're winning games, but we're getting contribution from guys that have been struggling," Mendoza added. "And that's what it's going to take. Guys doing their job and helping the team win baseball games."

After the Mets finish their series versus the Nationals, New York will play three games at the Miami Marlins (21-26).