New York Mets Secure Win Over Red Sox After Travel Delay

New York Mets rallied to a 5-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Friday night despite a 35‑minute game‑time delay caused by the Red Sox’s late‑night flight from Chicago. The Mets, now 40-54 and sitting 13th in the National League, used the extra time to warm up their bullpen and set the tone early.

How did the travel delay affect the start of the game?

The Red Sox’s plane left Chicago at 3:00 p.m. ET and touched down near New York at 4:58 p.m., leaving the team just over two and a half hours to de‑board, travel to Citi Field and get ready. The original 7:15 p.m. tip‑off was pushed to 7:50 p.m., giving Boston a brief breather but also disrupting their pre‑game routine. Mets pitcher David Peterson took advantage of the extra warm‑up, delivering three solid innings of two‑run ball.

What were the key moments for the Mets?

The first inning set the tone when Luis Guillorme ripped a leadoff double and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Mark Vientos. Boston’s Juan Soto dropped a routine fly in the outfield, allowing Anthony Seigler to reach first safely. In the third, Masataka Yoshida drove in two runs with a soft single, giving the Red Sox a 2‑0 lead, but the Mets answered back in the fourth. Pete Alonso launched a two‑run homer off Nick Pivetta, tying the game at 2‑2.

How did the Mets pull ahead?

The decisive blow came in the seventh inning. Tommy Pham singled, stole second, and scored on a ground‑out by Wilyer Abreu, putting the Mets up 3‑2. Boston responded with a solo shot by J.D. Martinez, but the Mets’ bullpen held firm. Adam Ottavino closed the game, striking out the side in the ninth. The final score, 5‑3, gave the Mets a three‑game winning streak, following their 7‑3 win over the Kansas City Royals on July 9, 2026.

What does this mean for New York Mets moving forward?

The win adds momentum as the Mets head into a weekend series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Their recent surge shows they can capitalize on opponents’ miscues, especially travel hiccups. With a 40‑54 record, the Mets are still far from a playoff spot, but each victory narrows the gap in the NL East and keeps their W2 streak alive. Fans will be watching to see if the bullpen can maintain the consistency shown by Ottavino and if the offense can continue delivering clutch hits like Alonso’s late‑game homer.

How did Boston react to the delay?

Boston’s manager Alex Cora expressed frustration after the flight issues but praised his team’s resilience. He noted the extra 30 minutes gave the pitchers a chance to settle nerves, yet the early defensive lapse by Soto cost them momentum. The Red Sox remain on a six‑game winning streak overall, though the loss highlights the thin margin between a win and a loss when travel problems arise.