Soto's early exit mars Mets' much-needed offensive outburst
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SAN FRANCISCO -- Mets left fielder Juan Soto was removed from Friday night’s game against the Giants at Oracle Park after the top of the first inning with right calf tightness and was replaced by Tyrone Taylor.
Soto singled as part of a two-run rally that catapulted New York to its best offensive showing since Opening Day and a 10-3 victory. Tyrone Taylor replaced Soto in left field for the bottom of the first.
Soto is scheduled for an MRI on Saturday.
Soto was hurt while running from first to third on a Bo Bichette single. He was thrown out on a home-to-first double-play ball off the bat of Brett Baty.
Soto has 11 hits in 31 at-bats this season, including one home run
Soto and the Mets must hope this injury is similar to a tight left calf that forced him out of a 2022 game when he played for the Nationals. He was back in the lineup the next day. Soto has not gone on the injured list with a leg injury as a Major Leaguer.
Soto’s removal was not the only Page 1 story on a night when the Mets snapped a three-game losing streak.
The slumping lineup finally enjoyed a merry-go-round of scoring it had sought since an 11-7 Opening Day win. The Mets scored 14 runs over their next six games and totaled just three during the losing streak.
Francisco Alvarez hit his first two homers of the season, both solo shots, and barely missed a third with a drive to the center-field wall that was caught. His first was part of a five-run, four-inning barrage against Giants right-hander Tyler Mahle.
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Marcus Semien hit a two-run homer in the fourth after he provided a rare two-out hit with runners in scoring position in the first, the team’s fourth in 33 such opportunities this season.
Semien and Bo Bichette each had three of the Mets’ season-high 15 hits.
That was plenty of support for starter Nolan McLean. He carried a perfect game into the sixth inning, losing it on a leadoff walk to Harrison Bader and then the no-hitter on Willy Adames’ RBI double. That was the only hit McLean allowed in 5 1/3 innings.