Mets' First-inning Rally Against Paul Skenes, Overall Offensive Output Offer Glimpse At What Lineup Can Do

Well, that was quite a start.

After Freddy Peralta allowed a pair of runs in the top of the first inning during Thursday’s Opening Day matchup with the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Mets quickly gave the Citi Field faithful plenty to cheer about in the bottom half of the inning. 

Thanks to four hits, two walks, a hit batter and a pair of defensive misplays by Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz, the Mets put five runs on the board and chased reigning NL Cy Young Paul Skenes after just two outs and 37 pitches. 

The Mets went on to win by a score of 11-7, thanks in part to that fast start against one of baseball's best pitchers.

It all started with a leadoff walk by Francisco Lindor, followed by a Juan Soto single and a Bo Bichette sac fly to right. After loading the bases with a Luis Robert Jr. walk, Brett Baty cashed in by lining a three-run triple over the head of Cruz in center, as he initially broke in. Cruz later missed what should have been an easy fly out from Marcus Semien, and then Skenes hit Francisco Alvarez as the Mets batted around.

"That first inning was pretty impressive, not gonna lie," Carlos Mendoza said after the game. "Right out of the gate with Lindor walking and then just going first to third and putting pressure (on Skenes), that’s one of the things that we talk about. If you want to beat guys like this, you’re going to have to play perfect baseball pretty much. Not only putting together some really good at-bats, but running the bases, putting the ball in play, and that whole inning, the way everything unfolded was pretty impressive."

"Overall, one through nine, a pretty solid day, and it says a lot about our offense," he later added.

And it wasn't just the first inning in which the Mets found offensive success. Mendoza highlighted the fifth inning, when the Mets had nine batters come to the plate and put three more runs on the board.

"There’s going to be times where it’s going to be hard, that’s the nature oft the business, but just to see it right out of the gates against one of the best pitchers in the league, it goes to show you that we’ve got some dangerous guys, and they continue to add on," Mendoza said. "Not just that first inning, but that fifth inning was as good as the first one where they’re controlling the strike zone, they’re creating traffic, we’re putting the ball in play with two strikes, we’re going the other way when we need to. That’s a sign of a good offensive team, from one through nine. 

"When you get contributions from guys like Marcus [Semien], from [Carson Benge], and [Alvarez] and we’re able to turn the lineup over, we’re going to be in a good place."

In all, the Mets had 11 hits and went 5-15 with runners in scoring position.

"I think the goal of our team should be to have the most competitive at-bats every single day, and we did that for sure," said Bichette.

"It’s the first game, but it could give us a glimpse of what we want to be as a team, getting down early and coming back against maybe the best in the game. That’s good stuff, so try to keep it going."

"That was a really fun game," added Baty. "Our lineup was really special, put together a lot of scrappy at-bats, and then Freddy, the bullpen, that was awesome."

Here are some of the highlights

Juan Soto with the Mets’ first hit of the season! pic.twitter.com/6mghWL9nX4

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) March 26, 2026

BRETT BATY CLEARS THE BASES!

METS LEAD! pic.twitter.com/xDbBIjHIoo

— SNY (@SNYtv) March 26, 2026

Marcus Semien brings home the fifth run of the inning as Oneil Cruz misplays it in center! pic.twitter.com/BxKvs4A80C

— SNY (@SNYtv) March 26, 2026

Paul Skenes does not get out of the first inning on Opening Day against the Mets pic.twitter.com/4qaZs9P3uB

— SNY (@SNYtv) March 26, 2026