Mets split their July 3 doubleheader with the Brewers after a 7-3 win. A lineup shuffle saw Brandon Nimmo hit a grand slam and Francisco Lindor homer.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Sometimes, you just have to shake things up. After weeks of listless offense and frustrating losses, the Mets finally got the jolt they desperately needed on Thursday night. A bold lineup shuffle saw Brandon Nimmo return to the leadoff spot and Francisco Lindor move down, a decision that paid immediate and spectacular dividends as the Mets snapped a four-game losing streak with a 7-3 victory in the nightcap of their doubleheader against the Brewers.
3-for-4 with a home run, a double, and three RBIs. That was Francisco Lindor's line just hours after being dropped from the leadoff spot.
The doubleheader at Citi Field was a perfect microcosm of the Mets' season: one step back, one giant leap forward. The day began with a familiar feeling of dread in a 7-2 loss, where the offense managed just two hits against Brewers ace Freddy Peralta. The game turned on a single pitch in the sixth when reliever Jake Diekman served up a tiebreaking grand slam to Joey Ortiz, deflating the home crowd. But as the sun set, the narrative flipped entirely. Manager Carlos Mendoza's lineup tweak proved to be a stroke of genius. In the second inning of the nightcap, a reinstalled leadoff man Brandon Nimmo blasted a grand slam off rookie Jacob Misiorowski, electrifying the ballpark and giving the Mets a lead they would never relinquish.
All eyes were on Francisco Lindor after being moved out of the top spot he's occupied for most of his Mets tenure. How would the All-Star shortstop respond to the demotion? With authority. Lindor followed Nimmo's slam with a home run of his own and proceeded to put together his best game in weeks, finishing 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs. It was a powerful statement from the team's leader, proving that a change of scenery—even one just a few spots down the order—can make all the difference. The performance was exactly what the team, and the fans, needed to see from their $341 million man.
The good news wasn't limited to the big league club. Down in Triple-A, veteran Jesse Winker continued to show his power stroke with a three-run homer for Syracuse. Meanwhile, one of the system's most exciting arms, Jonah Tong, was dominant for Double-A Binghamton, striking out nine batters over 4 1/3 innings to tie his career high. The organization also teased that a major leaguer will begin a rehab assignment with the Rumble Ponies this Saturday, adding another layer of intrigue for the weekend.
One win, even a decisive one, doesn't erase a stretch that saw the team lose 14 of its last 18 games. But this felt different. It wasn't just a win; it was a response. The question now is whether this lineup configuration is the long-term answer or just a one-night wonder. With the Brewers still in town, the Mets have a chance to build on this momentum and prove that the spark from Thursday's nightcap can ignite a much-needed fire. For the first time in a while, there's a reason to watch with anticipation.
