Mets fall to Yankees 5-4 on July 5, 2025, despite a homer from Pete Alonso and a rally led by Francisco Lindor. Read how the Subway Series thriller unfolded.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a classic Subway Series battle under the Saturday night lights, filled with roaring crowds, high-stakes moments, and ultimately, a dose of heartbreak for the Flushing faithful. Despite a valiant late-inning rally, the Mets fell just short, losing 5-4 to the Yankees in a nail-biter that highlighted both the team's resilience and its glaring need for pitching reinforcements.
The Mets rallied in the sixth, highlighted by a two-run double from Francisco Lindor, but ultimately fell short.
The game felt like a heavyweight bout from the first pitch. The Yankees landed the first big blow, with Cody Bellinger launching a two-run homer in the third inning off starter Frankie Montas Jr. The Mets bats were quiet until the sixth, when they exploded for a rally that sent a jolt through Citi Field. Francisco Lindor's clutch two-run double was the centerpiece, and it felt like the tide had turned. Pete Alonso added a solo blast, his 25th of the year, to keep hope alive. Even Edwin Díaz did his job, pitching a clean ninth to keep the deficit at one, but Yankees closer Clay Holmes slammed the door shut, leaving the Mets and their fans to wonder what could have been.
Frankie Montas Jr.'s final line—5 innings, 4 runs, 6 hits—tells the story of the game and the larger story of the Mets' rotation. While he battled, he put the team in an early hole. With Sean Manaea also struggling on his rehab assignment, the starting pitching depth is being tested. This context makes the burgeoning trade rumors all the more significant. Reports are swirling about a potential reunion with former Yankee Luis Severino, a move that could provide the top-end stability the rotation desperately needs as they push towards October.
The strain isn't just on the starters. The bullpen has been taxed all season due to injuries to key arms like Max Kranick and early-season overuse. This has forced manager Carlos Mendoza to rely on pitchers like Reed Garrett and Wascar Brazoban in high-leverage situations. While they've held their own, the cavalry can't arrive soon enough. All eyes are on the impending return of lefty Brooks Lee, whose presence is expected to bring a much-needed veteran calm and stability to the late innings.
While the big-league club grapples with the present, the front office continues to invest in the future. The Mets announced the signing of 19-year-old Italian pitching prospect Matteo Marelli. While the $10,000 bonus is modest, the move is anything but. It's another clear signal of Steve Cohen's commitment to building a sustainable, long-term winner by aggressively scouting international talent. Scout Rosario Chiovaro has been tracking Marelli for years, and the organization believes he could be a diamond in the rough, proving that the Mets are fighting on two fronts: for a title today and a dynasty tomorrow.
Losing to the Yankees always stings, but this 5-4 defeat serves as a glaring diagnostic of what this 50-39 Mets team needs. The offense showed fight, but the pitching is walking a tightrope. With the trade deadline looming, all eyes are on the front office. Will they make a move for a starter like Severino? Can Brooks Lee's return be the bullpen cure-all? The next few weeks will define whether this team is a contender or a pretender.
