The New York Mets returned home from their West Coast road trip with a bang, dismantling the Detroit Tigers in a game that showcased both veteran poise and rookie promise. After dropping the final two games—and the series—against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Mets needed a strong bounce-back performance. They got exactly that, thanks to a quality start from Freddy Peralta and an offensive explosion that left the Tigers scrambling.
Taking the mound for the Mets, Peralta looked to steady the ship after a tough end to the road trip. Opposing him was Tigers starter Jack Flaherty, who has struggled mightily in 2026. With an ERA north of 5.50 and just 34 innings pitched across eight starts, Flaherty was far from his best. But the real story of the day was Mets top prospect A.J. Ewing, who made his first career major league start. Batting eighth and playing center field, Ewing brought an electric energy to Citi Field that the fans quickly embraced.
The game started quietly, with both teams stranding a single base runner in the first inning. But the Tigers struck first in the second, as Dillon Dingler led off with a solo home run. A single and a double followed, putting runners on second and third with no outs. Spencer Torkelson then delivered a sacrifice fly to push Detroit’s lead to 2-0. Peralta, however, showed his resilience, working out of the jam to limit the damage. The Mets wasted no time responding. In the bottom of the inning, they loaded the bases with just one out. Francisco Alvarez drove in the team’s first run on a fielder’s choice, but that was all they could muster—leaving the score at 2-1.
The Mets’ bats came alive in the third. Mark Vientos ripped an RBI single to drive in Bo Bichette, knotting the game at 2-2. Then, in the fourth, Carson Benge added an RBI single of his own, scoring Alvarez to give New York a 3-2 lead. The Mets’ relentless pressure forced Flaherty from the game with two outs in the fourth, after he surrendered three runs on six hits and three walks.
The bottom of the sixth was where the game truly broke open. Facing reliever Burch Smith, the Mets loaded the bases with one out. During the at-bat, Alvarez injured himself and had to be replaced by Luis Torrens. With the crowd holding its breath, Bo Bichette stepped to the plate and hit what looked like an inning-ending double play ball. But Tigers third baseman Gage Workman threw the ball into right field instead of turning the double play, allowing two runs to score. That blunder handed the Mets a three-run lead with still just one out. Smith was promptly pulled for Emmanue, but the damage was done.
For Mets fans, this game was a perfect blend of grit and excitement. Peralta’s steady hand on the mound, the offense’s timely hitting, and A.J. Ewing’s memorable debut all pointed to a team finding its stride. Whether you’re sporting a Peralta jersey on game day or an Ewing shirt to celebrate the future, this win reminded us why baseball in Queens is always worth watching.