Postgame, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza discusses what he saw in Monday’s 5-1 win over the Twins…
Acuña making his mark
The Mets haven’t received much from the bottom of the order so far this season.
But on Monday night, Luisangel Acuña stepped up and put together one of his strongest showings of the year to this point — reaching base three times and causing havoc with his electric speed.
The youngster got things started for New York in the top of the third as he led off the inning with a walk and then proceeded to steal second before coming around to score three batters later on a Pete Alonso single.
Two innings later, he lined a double down the right-field line, but was stranded there.
Acuña then led off the top of the seventh with a perfectly-placed bunt single down the third base line — and he came around to score one two batters later on Juan Soto’s second homer of the season.
“Every time we get contributions from the bottom of the lineup it’s important,” Mendoza said. “Today Acuña had the walk, double, he got us going with a bunt single, stole a base. There’s a lot of different ways he can help us win games.”
Acuña is now riding a four-game hitting streak.
This recent hot stretch comes at a perfect time as Jeff McNeil continues to progress through his rehab assignment and will likely take over the bulk of the playing time at second base before you know it.
But Acuña could potentially continue finding his way into the lineup in center with Jose Siri now expected to miss significant time with a fractured tibia.
Is Vientos turning the corner?
He just might be.
After roping a go-ahead RBI double into the right-center field gap in the top of the sixth, Vientos now has knocks in three straight games and he’s driven in a run with a extra base-hit on back-to-back days.
He still has a ways to go to snap this early-season skid, but Mendoza is certainly happy with what he’s seen from the 25-year-old over the past few games.
“Overall he’s been giving us really good at-bats,” he said. “The results we haven’t got any — but it’s a good sign, especially to hit it like that. I think it was a sinker and when he’s doing that those are some good signs for him.”
Vientos returning to form would be a huge boost for this struggling offense.
Mark Vientos drives a double and Pete Alonso scores all the way from first
…and the Twins throw the ball at Vientos at second base?😂 pic.twitter.com/oryztWmBgx
— SNY (@SNYtv) April 15, 2025
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