NEW YORK — Paul Goldschmidt drove in two runs and Cody Bellinger collected three hits as the Yankees defeated the Mets 6-2 in the Subway Series opener Friday night before 47,700 fans at Yankee Stadium.
Carlos Rodón overcame four walks to pitch five innings of one-run ball, while the Yankees (26-18) erupted for four runs in the third inning against struggling Mets starter Tylor Megill.
Juan Soto, making his first Bronx appearance since signing his record $765 million contract with the Mets last December, went 0-for-2 but showcased his elite on-base skills by drawing three walks amid constant booing from his former home crowd.
“I was ready for it,” Soto said of the reception. “It’s just another game. It’s really uncomfortable that we didn’t get the win. I don’t focus on the fans. We’ve got to focus on the game, being a professional and trying to win the game.”
Box Score Breakdown: Big Third Inning Fuels Yankees
After two scoreless frames, the Yankees sent ten batters to the plate in the decisive third inning against Megill (3-4). Aaron Judge singled and came around to score on Goldschmidt’s RBI hit to left. Francisco Lindor then threw wildly to first on a ground ball, allowing another run to score. Anthony Volpe delivered a sacrifice fly before Oswaldo Peraza drew a bases-loaded walk to cap the four-run outburst.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mets | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
| Yankees | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 6 | 8 | 0 |
WP: Rodón (5-3) LP: Megill (3-4) SV: Weaver (5) Time: 2:58 Attendance: 47,700
The Yankees added two more runs in the fourth on RBI hits from Bellinger and Goldschmidt to push the lead to 6-1.
Yankees Offensive Leaders Dominate Mets Pitching
Judge continued his torrid start to the season, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored to maintain his MLB-leading .414 batting average and impressive 1.275 OPS.
Bellinger, whose bat has heated up after a slow start, went 3-for-5 with an RBI double as part of his 11-game hitting streak. His offensive resurgence has been crucial for the Yankees’ recent success.
“The atmosphere was electric,” Goldschmidt said after his 2-for-4, two-RBI performance. “These rivalry games are special. I’m just trying to contribute any way I can.”
Yankees Batting Production
| Player | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Judge RF | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .414 | .500 | .775 | 1.275 |
| Bellinger LF | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .242 | .308 | .403 | .710 |
| Goldschmidt 1B | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .349 | .398 | .506 | .904 |
| Domínguez DH | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .236 | .333 | .425 | .759 |
| Volpe SS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .236 | .298 | .421 | .719 |
| Wells C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .208 | .283 | .455 | .737 |
| Peraza 3B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | .179 | .250 | .347 | .597 |
| Vivas 2B | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .185 | .211 | .327 | .512 |
| Grisham CF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .276 | .368 | .612 | .980 |
The Yankees’ team offensive production far outpaced the Mets’, with eight hits and seven walks against six Mets strikeouts. Their 3-for-10 performance with runners in scoring position proved pivotal.
Mets Offensive Struggles Continue Despite Soto’s Walks
While the Mets drew six walks, they managed just five hits and struck out 11 times against Yankees pitching. Their 2-for-8 showing with runners in scoring position left 10 men stranded.
Brandon Nimmo (2-for-4) drove in the Mets’ first run with a fourth-inning single that scored Soto. Francisco Lindor added an RBI double in the ninth, but it was too little, too late.
Pete Alonso endured a tough night at the plate, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts as his season-long slugging percentage dipped slightly to .570.
Mets Batting Breakdown
| Player | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lindor SS | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .294 | .360 | .489 | .848 |
| Soto RF | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | .252 | .386 | .459 | .845 |
| Alonso 1B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .303 | .412 | .570 | .982 |
| Vientos 3B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .245 | .311 | .397 | .709 |
| Nimmo LF | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .233 | .291 | .436 | .726 |
| Marte DH | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .192 | .302 | .301 | .604 |
| Alvarez C | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .269 | .367 | .346 | .713 |
| Acuña 2B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .264 | .322 | .318 | .640 |
| Taylor CF | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .231 | .280 | .350 | .630 |
Soto’s three walks highlighted his elite batting eye despite the hostile environment. His season on-base percentage rose to .386, reinforcing his reputation as one of baseball’s most disciplined hitters.
Detailed Pitching Stats: Rodón vs. Megill Matchup
Carlos Rodón earned his fourth consecutive victory, improving to 5-3 while lowering his ERA to 3.17. The lefty worked through five innings, allowing just one run on two hits while striking out five. His four walks pushed his pitch count to 102 (60 strikes), but he made key pitches when needed.
Starting Pitching Comparison
| Pitcher | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | Pitches-Strikes | ERA | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rodón (W, 5-3) | 5.0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 102-60 | 3.17 | 1.22 |
| Megill (L, 3-4) | 2.2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 72-37 | 3.74 | 1.46 |
Megill’s control issues proved fatal as he struggled through just 2.2 innings, walking five batters while throwing only 51.4% of his pitches for strikes. His season WHIP rose to 1.46 after this disappointing outing.
“They made me work for it,” Rodón said post-game. “They drove up the pitch count and had some good at-bats, but we got out of there with a win.”
His biggest test came in the fourth when the Mets loaded the bases with one out, already having pushed across a run on Nimmo’s RBI single. Rodón induced a crucial flyout from Luisangel Acuña to end the threat.
“That was a huge moment,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Carlos battled all night, and getting that out kept momentum on our side.”
Relief Pitcher Effectiveness: Yankees Bullpen Shines
The Yankees bullpen provided four innings of one-run relief, with Jonathan Loáisiga making his first appearance since April 2023 following Tommy John surgery.
Yankees Relief Corps
| Pitcher | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | Pitches-Strikes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loáisiga | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12-8 |
| Leiter Jr. | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 20-13 |
| Williams | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 14-10 |
| De Los Santos | 0.2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 25-15 |
| Weaver (S, 5) | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2-2 |
“Having him back is a big deal for us,” Boone said of Loáisiga. “He looked sharp tonight, and that’s a quality arm to add to our pen.”
Devin Williams was particularly dominant, striking out the side in the eighth inning, while Luke Weaver needed just two pitches to retire Soto with two runners on base in the ninth for his fifth save.
Mets Bullpen Stats
| Pitcher | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | Pitches-Strikes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kranick | 2.1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 24-20 |
| Buffo | 2.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 33-17 |
| Núñez | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13-8 |
The Yankees and Mets combined for 17 strikeouts, with Yankees pitchers recording 11 while issuing only six walks. The Mets’ staff allowed seven walks while striking out just six Yankees.
Defensive Impact: Clean Yankees Defense vs. Lindor’s Error
While the Yankees played error-free baseball, the Mets committed a costly error when Lindor threw wildly to first base in the third inning. This miscue, his seventh of the season, directly contributed to the Yankees’ big inning.
Goldschmidt showed his defensive value at first base, making an over-the-shoulder catch on a Tyrone Taylor popup in the fifth inning.
“That was a tough play,” Rodón said. “I didn’t think anybody was going to get to that ball. Gold has been solid for us defensively all year.”
Oswaldo Peraza also contributed a diving stop at third base in the first inning, robbing what looked like a sure double down the line.
The Yankees’ defensive efficiency has been a key factor in their success this season, with the team ranking among the American League leaders in fielding percentage.
Head-to-Head Player Matchups: Soto vs. Former Team
The most intriguing individual matchup featured Juan Soto against his former Yankees teammates. While he didn’t record a hit, his plate discipline was evident as he worked three walks.
Against Rodón specifically, Soto went 0-for-1 with two walks, showcasing the careful approach Yankees pitchers took against their former teammate.
“I was trying to get him to swing and miss every time,” Rodón admitted. “And he was, as he always is, real patient. He knows his zone. I wanted to get him.”
Aaron Judge continued his remarkable 2025 campaign against the Mets, maintaining his statistical dominance across all offensive categories. His .414 batting average and 1.275 OPS lead all MLB qualified hitters.
Subway Series History and Context
This victory gives the Yankees an early advantage in the 2025 Subway Series. The crosstown rivals will play five more times this season, with a three-game set scheduled for Citi Field in July.
Last season, the teams split their six meetings with each winning two of three games at their home ballpark.
Game Notes and Stats
- The Yankees improved to 15-7 at home this season
- Aaron Judge extended his on-base streak to 17 games
- Cody Bellinger’s 11-game hitting streak is the second-longest active streak in the American League
- Carlos Rodón has allowed two runs or fewer in five straight starts
- Yankees relievers have combined for a 1.98 ERA over their last 12 games
- Juan Soto’s three walks matched his season high
- Pete Alonso’s three strikeouts tied his season high
- The game time of 2:58 was slightly above the season average
Up Next in the Subway Series
The series continues Saturday afternoon with Luis Gil (4-1, 2.76 ERA) starting for the Yankees against David Peterson (5-2, 3.05 ERA) for the Mets.
First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. ET at Yankee Stadium.
For complete player stats from Friday’s Yankees-Mets matchup, visit MLB.com.
For more Match Stats and in-depth Analytics, visit MatchVSPlayerStats.
Additional Yankees vs Mets player stats and historical matchup information can be found at Baseball Reference.
