Juan Soto is on one of those tears.
With the Mets’ pitching struggling, the star outfielder has decided it’s time to put the team on his back.
Soto had his hands all over Monday afternoon’s win over the Tigers.
He gave the Mets the lead in the top of the fourth, crushing a 1-2 curveball from veteran right-hander Charlie Morton deep to right-center for a grand slam.
It was his team-leading 36th homer of the season, but his first with more than one man on-base.
It was also somehow only the second grand slam of his career.
Detroit would rally to even things up against Sean Manaea, but Soto struck again a few innings later, this time lacing a go-ahead two-run triple down the right field line to put New York back in front for good.
He also drew a pair of walks on the day, reaching four times and matching his career-high with six RBI.
Soto now has the most career games (116) with a home run and a walk before turning 27 years old, passing Yankees legend Mickey Mantle (115), h/t Sarah Langs.
“I haven’t changed anything,” he said. “I’m just getting more lucky, more balls are landing and I’m just doing the same thing up there — just trusting my swing and the ability that I have to go up there and do damage.”
Soto has gone deep four times and has driven in 11 runs over the last four games.
His OPS has quickly risen to .915 on the season.
“Pretty impressive,” Carlos Mendoza said. “I don’t think anybody is surprised by it, but when you see it day in and day out for a long period of time it’s like man, this guy can really put a team on his back and carry it, and that’s what he’s doing right now.
“The grand slam, then the triple down the line in a tough left on left matchup. Just his ability to control the strike zone, it’s a show, every time he’s at the plate you want to watch that — he’s pretty special and I’m glad he’s on our team.”
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