Remembering Mets History (2021) Mets Take First Two Games Of the July Subway Series

Saturday July 3rd, 2021: A crowd of 40,047 came out to see the second game of this year's version of the subway series. The Subway Series has certainly lost its excitement from the early years of action, but is sometimes still s a thrill to a new generation of fans.

The Mets (43-36) were in first place, a spot they held until August when they began their fall & everything went bad. They were having a rough week here too, having gone 5-5 in their last ten games.

The AL New York (41-39) team was struggling to stay at .500, after the two losses they would have lost seven of eight games, have their record fall to 41-41, falling ten full games behind the Boston Red Sox who had swept them a week earlier.

In this game Taijuan Walker (6-3) who had been having a great half for the Mets went up against Jordany Montgomery (3-2)

The game was scoreless until the 5th, Brandon Nimmo & Francisco Lindor both singled. Dom Smith drove in Nimmo with a base hit as well.

After Pete Alonso walked, James McCann singled in another run & a Lucas Luetge wild pitch made it 3-0 Mets.

In the 6th, the Mets blew it open sending ten men to the plate, scoring five runs with five hits & drawing two walks.

Three straight hits from Jeff McNeil, Jose Pereza & Nimmo loaded the bases. Franciso drew a leadoff walk from former Met Justin Wilson & then Dom Smith cracked a double to left field, bringing in McNeil & Pereza. It was Smith's third RBI on the day. 

The new A.L. NY pitcher was Michael King, he got the first two outs by striking out Alonso & McCann. Then he walked Michael Conforto & Kevin Pillar singled to left field bringing in two more Mets runs making it 8-0.

Taijuan Walker blanked the A.L. team for the first five innings. He pitched into the 6th inning, allowing two runs, an Aaron Judge HR was one of just two hits they had. He struck out five & walked two, earning his 7th win.

Miguel Castro, Jeurys Familia & Drew Smith closed it out with two scoreless innings in the Mets 8-3 win. 

Sunday July 4th, 2021: Independence Day featured a double header, to make up for Friday's rain out. A crowd of 
42,714 came out for this Holiday twin bill. Two top pitchers went to the mound for their teams, the Mets Marcus Stroman (6-6) vs. Gerrit Cole (8-4).

In the top of the 1st inning, Dom Smith with a two out, solo HR off Cole to make it a 1-0 Met lead. It was Smith's 9th HR of the season.

But Stroman, had a rough 2nd inning, first allowing a base hit, then having Gio Urshela reach base on a Francisco Lindor error. Stroman then hit Bret Gardner with a pitch to load the bases. Kyle Higashioka doubled, scoring two runs it was 2-1. 

Then Tim Locastro, who had just recently been acquired, hit a sac fly to score the third run (unearned).

In the 3rd, back to back singles, followed by a Giancarlo Stanton grounder scored another run, making it 4-1.

The AL New Yorkers, expected to coast with their top pitcher, Cole on the mound. But in the 4th, the first place Mets struck. Michael Conforto walked & Jeff McNeil singled. Cole then walked Billy McKinney to load the bases with no one out. Catcher, Tomas Nido then singled to score Conforto. 

After Luis Guillorme struck out, Brandon Nimmo singled to right field, bringing in McNeil & knocking Cole out of the game.

Francisco Lindor then tied the game

with a base hit off reliever, Jonathan Loaisiga. 

In the home 5th, Stroman gave up back to back singles, then threw a wild pitch putting the A.L. team up 5-4. The score stayed that way until the 7th inning, which was the last inning of this Saturday doubleheader. 

Aroldis Chapman too the mound for the A.L. New Yorkers & immediately gave up a long HR to Pete Alonso to tie the game. It was his first of two HRs in the twin bill, his third HR in the last six games & #14 on the season.

Michael Conforto was hit by a pitch then Jeff McNeil walked, Chapman was wild & in trouble. He was taken out of the game with another blown save. The new pitcher was Lucas Luetge.

Kevin Pillar hit an infield single to short, to load the bases. With one out, Jose Peraza doubled scoring Conforto & McNeil. Brandon Nimmo & Francisco Lindor both followed with base hits, thrilling the Mets fans in attendance, giving the eta a 10-5 lead.

Seth Lugo came on & retired the side in order, sealing the Mets exciting win.