Mets top Yankees 6-5 on July 5, 2025, as Jeff McNeil's clutch homer and Reed Garrett's six-out save seal a thrilling Subway Series win. Recap the drama.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Just when you thought the summer blues were setting in, Citi Field absolutely erupted. In a classic Subway Series slugfest Friday night, the Mets clawed their way back from the brink, with Jeff McNeil playing the hero in a stunning 6-5 victory over the reeling New York Yankees. It was a game that had everything: big homers, high-leverage drama, and a finish that reminded every Mets fan why you never count this team out.
With one swing in the seventh inning, Jeff McNeil erased a one-run deficit, launching a go-ahead, two-run homer that became the difference-maker in a 6-5 Mets win.
The action was back-and-forth from the jump. The Yankees, despite entering on a four-game skid, came out swinging with Jasson Domínguez launching two homers and Juan Soto adding another. But the Mets refused to fold. Brett Baty answered with a homer of his own and Pete Alonso chipped in with a crucial RBI single. The defining moment came in the bottom of the seventh. Trailing 5-4, Jeff McNeil stepped to the plate and blasted a two-run shot off Luke Weaver, sending the home crowd into a delirium. The drama wasn't over, as Reed Garrett was called upon for a six-out save, navigating the heart of the Yankee order and sealing the win with help from a slick defensive play by McNeil himself.
While Garrett and Huascar Brazobán (who earned the win) were lockdown on Friday, the bullpen remains a source of constant anxiety. The celebration was tempered by sobering news, as it was revealed that reliever Dedniel Núñez is facing a potential second Tommy John surgery after a setback. With Max Kranick already on the IL, the Mets' relief corps is being held together by duct tape and sheer will. It's a testament to the club's 'next man up' mentality, but it's a precarious situation that puts immense pressure on the remaining arms.
Fortunately, some reinforcements could be on the way. Lefty starter Sean Manaea, who has been out all season, is slated for one final rehab start and could rejoin the team before the All-Star break, potentially shifting another arm to the bullpen. The front office is also surely looking down at the farm. Top prospects like shortstop Jett Williams and the recently returned Brooks Lee continue to impress, and the organization may be forced to accelerate the timeline for pitchers like Jonah Tong or Carson Benge to provide much-needed depth at the major league level.
This win couldn't have come at a better time. After a grueling 12-15 record in June, the Mets are now 2-1 to start July. Manager Carlos Mendoza has been preaching resilience, and players like McNeil and Soto have voiced their optimism about breaking out of recent funks. A win like this, against your biggest rival, can be the spark that ignites a fire. With a softer schedule on the horizon, the hope is that this dramatic victory is not just an isolated moment, but the first step in a much-needed mid-summer surge.
One win doesn't erase a month of struggles, but this was more than just one win. It was a statement. Beating the Yankees in this fashion injects a massive dose of momentum and belief into the clubhouse and the fanbase. Now, the challenge is to build on it. With two more games in the Subway Series this weekend and the All-Star break fast approaching, the Mets have a golden opportunity to prove that the fight is far from over.
