Bo Bichette finally delivered the kind of breakout performance the Mets had been waiting for, putting together a home run and three-hit night in New York’s wild 16-7 extra-inning victory over the Washington Nationals on Monday.
Before the game, pressure had continued to build around Bichette after a difficult start to his Mets tenure. His struggles at the plate, combined with a costly defensive mistake during Sunday’s Subway Series finale against the Yankees, had become a major talking point across New York. Through his first 46 games with the club, Bichette had posted disappointing numbers, ranking among the least productive players in Major League Baseball based on Wins Above Replacement metrics.
That made Monday’s performance especially meaningful for both Bichette and the Mets organization. In a game that eventually turned into an offensive explosion, Bichette provided one of the key turning points with a solo home run in the seventh inning. Facing Nationals left-hander Mitchell Parker, Bichette chased a high curveball and crushed it 409 feet over the left-field wall for his first extra-base hit in 82 plate appearances. The emotional reaction was obvious as he slowly left the batter’s box, clearly savoring the moment after weeks of frustration.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza expressed confidence that Bichette’s early-season struggles would eventually fade into the background, insisting that the talented infielder remains too gifted offensively to stay cold for long.
Bichette’s impact did not stop with the homer. He reached base four times during the contest and played a major role in the Mets’ explosive 10-run rally in the 12th inning. He singled and scored early in the inning before later adding a two-run double against utility player Jorbit Vivas, who had been forced into pitching duties. By the end of the night, Bichette finished 3-for-6 with three RBIs, two runs scored, and a walk — his first multi-hit game in nearly two weeks.
Despite still carrying a modest .219 batting average and a .570 OPS through 47 games, Bichette believes his swing has been improving in recent days even if the results had not shown up until now. Monday’s breakout performance could serve as the confidence boost he needs to finally regain his rhythm at the plate.
Meanwhile in Anaheim, the Los Angeles Angels pulled off one of the most dramatic victories of the MLB season, rallying from the brink of being no-hit to stun the Athletics 2-1 on a walk-off home run by Zach Neto.
The Angels entered the ninth inning without a hit against Athletics right-hander J.T. Ginn, who had dominated throughout the game. But veteran infielder Adam Frazier finally broke up the no-hit bid with a single to left-center field. Just moments later, Neto launched a two-run homer to center field, instantly turning a near-historic loss into an unforgettable comeback victory.
The dramatic win snapped the Angels’ six-game losing streak and provided an emotional lift for a team that had struggled offensively in recent weeks. Neto admitted after the game that the victory felt enormous for both himself and the clubhouse, especially given the team’s recent frustrations.
The comeback also preserved one of baseball’s longest active streaks, as the Angels have now gone 4,227 consecutive games without being no-hit a streak dating back to 1999. Neto’s walk-off blast also placed the Angels in rare MLB history, becoming only the third team since 1961 to win on a walk-off home run after being no-hit entering the ninth inning.
Angels manager Kurt Suzuki described the ending as something he had rarely, if ever, witnessed before. Ginn, who had been brilliant all night, surrendered the decisive homer on his 105th pitch after allowing the first two batters of the inning to reach.
Neto, who has also battled inconsistency this season, said he feels his swing is beginning to return and credited the team’s energy in the dugout for sparking the comeback. According to Neto, an emotional speech before the ninth inning kept the players motivated despite being held hitless for eight innings.
The Angels’ stunning victory was also made possible by rookie starter Walbert Ureña, who delivered six scoreless innings in one of the best outings of his young career. Reliever Chase Silseth added another crucial moment by escaping a bases-loaded jam in the ninth inning before the Angels completed their improbable comeback moments later.
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