After yet another dud that further dizzied the spiraling Mets, Clay Holmes expressed confidence the club would snap out of its funk and wondered what would be the source that ignites the group.
“Hopefully something sparks [us], we get some momentum and we start riding that again,” the afternoon’s starting pitcher said.
How about Brandon Nimmo, freshly bumped into the leadoff spot, delivering a grand slam against a flame-throwing phenom?
How about Francisco Lindor, freshly shifted to the No. 2 hole, making it back-to-back homers on a three-RBI night?
Francisco Lindor of the Mets reacts after he hits a solo home run in the second inning of Game 2 of a doubleheader against the Milwaukee Brewers at Citi Field. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Blade Tidwell of the New Mets is pulled from the game in the sixth inning of Game 2 of a doubleheader against the Milwaukee Brewers at Citi Field on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, in Queens, NY. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Perhaps a few unexpected swings can be the type that swing the club’s season back on track.
The deeply slumping Mets tried something new and found a new result: Carlos Mendoza penciled Nimmo in as his first hitter for the nightcap, bouncing Lindor out of the spot that had become his home.
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Both players responded, Nimmo most loudly by lifting a second-inning grand slam against overpowering Milwaukee rookie Jacob Misiorowski to help the Mets salvage a doubleheader split on a long Wednesday of baseball at Citi Field.
Behind Nimmo, Lindor, 4 ¹/₃ innings of competence from Blade Tidwell and a series of relievers, the Mets broke out in the night game with a 7-3 victory after dropping the matinee against the Brewers 7-2.
“When [my decisions] don’t work, it’s on me,” Mendoza said with a smile, just a few hours after he faced scrutiny for pulling Holmes perhaps a bit early. “When they work, it’s on the player. It’s as simple as that.”
By surviving a second game that finished at 10:04 p.m. — or nearly nine hours after the 1:11 p.m. start of the day-night doubleheader — the Mets (49-38) halted a four-game skid and won for just a fourth time in their past 18 contests.
There is no guarantee they can bottle a game’s worth of momentum and begin to take off, and their strong offensive work followed a two-hit afternoon effort. But a new-look lineup helped their bats awaken, which inspired some optimism for a team that has been free-falling.
Brandon Nimmo of the New York Mets is greeted by Ronny Mauricio of the New York Mets after he scores on his grand slam in the second inning of Game 2 of a doubleheader against the Milwaukee Brewers. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Their bats had been silent during this plummet, and Mendoza sought to separate lefties Nimmo and Juan Soto in the order. He didn’t need to check with Nimmo, who routinely tells Mendoza that he will hit anywhere.
After pulling Lindor into his office between games to congratulate the newly named All-Star, Mendoza asked him about hitting second.
“Whatever it takes to win,” said Lindor, whose club won largely because it did what no one else has done against Misiorowski: Connect bat with ball.
Francisco Lindor of the New York Mets reacts after he hits an RBI double during the eighth inning. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
The rookie righty, whose fastball touched 102 mph, had given up three total hits in his first three starts in which he posted a 1.13 ERA.
His fourth career start unraveled with a two-out rally in the second inning, which came with some suspect defense behind him. Brett Baty and Ronny Mauricio walked before Hayden Senger hit a chopper up the middle that deflected off Misiorowski’s glove and toward second base. Brice Turang was waiting there for the ball with his foot on the bag, but he fumbled the scoop that allowed the inning to continue with the bases loaded.
The next pitch was a 95.7 mph slider that Nimmo cracked into the right field seats, the announced and desperate crowd of 41,123 erupting as if the Mets had just clinched the pennant.
“We’ve been missing that big one there,” Mendoza said of a team that has significantly struggled with runners on base.
“A big momentum shift, especially against him,” Nimmo said of Misiorowski, whose velocity he compared with Jacob deGrom.
Edwin Díaz of the New York Mets walks off the mound after ending the eighth inning. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Lindor — who looked just fine in the No. 2 hole — then smacked a towering homer to right-center for a fifth run in the inning. The Mets had totaled five runs in their previous three games.
Lindor, who entered the nightcap mired in a 2-for-29 slump, added an RBI single in the sixth and an RBI double in the eighth.
The offensive damage inflicted, the Mets — who had watched Reed Garrett implode in the afternoon — pieced together nine innings using an opener in Huascar Brazobán, strong work from Tidwell and four additional relievers.
Brandon Nimmo, Tyrone Taylor and Juan Soto celebrate the Mets’ win over the Brewers. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Dedniel Núñez and Richard Lovelady were effective before Ryne Stanek allowed the two to reach in the eighth. Edwin Díaz entered with two outs and the tying run at the plate and struck out Jake Bauers before recording his 17th save and first with a brand-new top of the order.
“Awesome,” Nimmo said of hitting second. “Whatever helps us win, that’s what I’m down for.”
