SEE IT: Mets, Juan Soto stay loose with game of bottle flip in win over Dodgers

There was a vibe all game in the Mets’ dugout on Wednesday night in Los Angeles.

Against the rival Dodgers, Mets players kept it light and loose in between innings and during at-bats, showcasing that the good times from a year ago are still here.

First, Luisangel Acuna donned some catcher’s gear to protect the dugout from any foul balls headed their way, but it was in the top of the ninth with the Mets batting when the joy of the game shone through the players.

With the Mets up 6-0 thanks to two Pete Alonso home runs, a group of players that included Jose Siri, Starling Marte, among others, began to play “bottle flip.” After the players could not get the water bottle to stand up, Juan Soto appeared and made his lone attempt.

The first-year Met flipped the bottle and it landed perfectly. The group all jumped at the feat while Soto, with a big smile, ran through the dugout.

“Was it Soto who got it?” SNY broadcaster Gary Cohen asked. “It was. Of course it was.”

While Soto didn’t have a great night at the plate — he finished 0-for-1 with three walks and an RBI groundout — Mets fans saw the return of the “Soto shuffle” earlier in the game and it seems Soto is starting to look like himself again.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza was asked about the sudden return of the Soto Shuffle and the second-year skipper echoed what he’s been saying about his star player all season.

“It’s Juan Soto being Juan Soto,” he said. “I’ve been saying it even through the ‘tough times,’ he’s been the same guy. A guy that comes in, prepares, competes, and as long as we’re winning games, that’s all that matters to him. He knows he’s too good of a player, too good of a hitter and at the end of the year, the numbers will be there. We know that.”

The Mets’ 6-1 win on Wednesday night clinched the season series against the Dodgers, something Mendoza downplayed but when it was a great win considering they let Tuesday’s loss in extra innings slip away. Mendoza was asked about how the team can play so loose even against a tough team like the Dodgers, and he

“That’s who we are,” he said. “After a tough loss last night, tough game, come back the next day and we did that again today. We know we’re good. You’re going to go through times where it’s not going to be easy and just to keep it the same. Don’t get too high, don’t get too low. Understand you have a long ways to go, but also understanding we have a good team here.”

The Mets may have won the season series, but they can win the four-game set when they take on the Dodgers on Thursday afternoon.

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