Mets Win Sixth Straight Behind Marte Homer, Bullpen

Resilient. That’s been the word to describe the 2024 New York Mets this early in the season.

On Saturday afternoon against the Los Angeles Dodgers on the road, the Mets continued their resiliency in a thrilling 6-4 win at Dodger Stadium. Despite the pitching walking ten Dodgers batters, the Mets managed to hold their ground. In the sixth inning, with the score tied at 4-4, Starling Marte hit a home run, securing the win for the team. This victory marked their fifth straight series win and their twelfth win in their last fifteen games. 

Jose Buttó Not Sharp, But Battled

Jose Buttó has arguably been the best Mets starting pitcher so far in 2024. Saturday afternoon was his biggest test to date, as he faced the powerful Dodgers lineup. He pitched a hardworking 4.1 innings, allowing three hits, two runs, five walks, hit a batter, and six strikeouts.

Buttó wasn’t sharp and was often behind in the count. He worked his way out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning after Freddie Freeman tied the game with an RBI single. Buttó struck out James Outman and Andy Pages to get out of the inning with the game still at 1-1.

He held the Dodgers scoreless in the second (worked his way out of another bases-loaded jam in that inning), third, and fourth innings until New York took him out in the bottom half of the fifth with runners on first and third with one out. 

The encouraging part of his outing is he didn’t let the game get away from him. Facing a lineup filled with All-Stars would be tough for a young pitcher, but he kept the Mets in the game. If you’re the Mets, that’s your biggest takeaway from Buttó’s outing on Saturday. 

Another Big Day For Lindor

Off the heels of his clutch two-run home run on Friday night. Francisco Lindor picked up where he left off with a two-RBI afternoon. From the left side of the plate as well. In the top of the first inning, he drove in Brandon Nimmo with an opposite-field double to give the Mets an early 1-0 lead. In the top of the eighth inning after the Dodgers cut the Mets lead to 5-4, Lindor hit an RBI single to extend it to 6-4. 

A Healthy Starling Marte Is A Dangerous Starling Marte

Starling Marte continued his strong start to the season on Saturday, and he’s had a big series. Marte contributed with a four-RBI afternoon. The big hit for Marte came in the top of the sixth inning after the Dodgers tied the game at 2-2. Marte hit a three-run home run to deep center field to give New York a 5-4 lead. His home run was the deciding factor in this win. A healthy Marte adds so much to this Mets lineup, and he’s showing why. 

The Mets Bullpen Keeps Rollin Through Adversity

The Mets bullpen has been impressive so far this year. They’ve had to overcome starters not giving them innings day in and day out and they’ve held their own. On Saturday, Michael Tonkin, Drew Smith, Jorge López, Edwin Diaz in the eighth inning, and Reed Garrett to close it out. Diaz came in to face the heart of the Dodgers order with a man on base. He ended up walking Ohtani and Freeman but struck out Teoscar Hernández and Max Muncy with the bases loaded to preserve the lead. Garrett struck out the side in the ninth to get the save. 

Player Of The Game: Starling Marte

Marte drove in four of the Mets’ six runs in the win, the capper being his big three-run home run. He also stole a base to set up Lindor’s RBI single in the eighth inning. 

On Deck

The Mets will look to sweep the Dodgers on Sunday afternoon. Adrian Houser will pitch against Tyler Glasnow. The game will be televised at 4:10 p.m. EDT on WPIX11.