Friday night at Citi Field was anything but ordinary for New York Mets fans and Texas Rangers ace Jacob deGrom. Under the bright lights and the retro vibes of "Stranger Things" night, deGrom returned to the mound he once called home, this time donning Rangers blue. The outcome? An 8-3 Rangers victory that snapped the Mets’ hopes of ending their mounting skid and added yet another chapter to deGrom’s storied career in Queens.
The emotional weight of the night was palpable. DeGrom, a two-time Cy Young winner and Mets legend, was back in the visitor’s clubhouse for the first time since leaving New York. "I wanted to throw up all day," deGrom confessed after the game, according to The Dallas Morning News. "Honestly, it felt like I was making my debut, really. There were nerves, obviously. I hadn’t been back here."
Before first pitch, the Mets honored their former ace with a minute-long highlight reel on the video board, a montage of deGrom’s greatest moments in orange and blue. The sight nearly overwhelmed him. "When they played the video, I looked at it for a second and had to look down and gather myself to get ready for the game. But once first pitch happened, it was all right, ‘Here we go. Gotta try to get some outs.’"
If deGrom was anxious, it didn’t show once he took the mound. The Rangers’ offense, often criticized for inconsistency, exploded for six runs in the first inning—off Mets rookie Jonah Tong. All six came after two outs, with five scoring on two-strike hits. That early cushion was a rarity for deGrom, who famously endured years of minimal run support as a Met. The six-run first inning was the kind of backing Mets fans long wished for during his tenure in New York.
DeGrom capitalized on the generous lead, cruising through seven innings on just 88 pitches. He allowed the Mets only two strikeouts, tying for the fewest he’s ever recorded in a Citi Field start. The Mets, meanwhile, were forced to their bullpen in the first inning and ended up using five relievers, a testament to both the Rangers’ relentless offense and the Mets’ recent struggles.
That loss marked the Mets’ seventh straight, a streak that would stretch to eight before finally snapping on Sunday. Mets fans, already smarting from the defeat, found themselves the subject of a viral social media hoax. Mark Gooden, known as @TooGooden17 on X/Twitter, posted that the Rangers’ eight runs were more than deGrom had ever received in any of his 110 Citi Field starts. The post, which racked up nearly 650,000 views, fooled many—including fans, media, and even X’s own AI, Grok. But Mets faithful who dug into the numbers quickly debunked the claim. In fact, deGrom had received more than eight runs of support before, including a memorable 10-run inning against the Brewers on May 16, 2015.
The misinformation even prompted a reaction from longtime Mets radio voice Howie Rose, who called Gooden an "imbecile." Gooden’s knack for stirring the pot was on full display, but the facts remained: deGrom’s run support woes were legendary, but not quite as dire as the viral post claimed.
As the weekend unfolded, the Mets’ woes continued. The team’s six-game losing streak with at least nine strikeouts per game set a franchise record. Thursday saw the Mets lose a game in which they scored four runs in the first inning and then failed to score again—a rare occurrence that’s happened only a handful of times in team history. By Friday, the bullpen was spent, with relievers stretched thin after back-to-back taxing games.
Yet, amid the gloom, there were glimmers of hope. Nolan McLean, a rookie right-hander, was officially recognized as the best pitcher in Mets history through his first six starts, boasting a sparkling 1.19 ERA. On Sunday, Pete Alonso delivered a much-needed jolt, smashing a walk-off home run to snap the Mets’ eight-game losing streak. Alonso’s blast was his fifth walk-off homer as a Met, setting a new franchise record.
Elsewhere in the National League East, the Phillies’ bid to clinch the division was delayed after a 10-3 loss. Atlanta’s win over Houston propelled the Mariners into first place in their division for the first time this late in a season since their historic 116-win campaign in 2001. Around the league, milestones abounded: Cal Raleigh set a new record for home runs by a catcher in a season, and Juan Soto joined the exclusive 40-30 club—40 home runs and 30 stolen bases in a single year—becoming just the 13th player in MLB history to do so.
For the Mets, the week was a statistical rollercoaster. Monday’s 1-0 loss was their first of the season and their first since July 4, 2024. Wednesday tied a club record for most hit-by-pitches in a game, with four Mets pitchers plunking batters. The team allowed at least ten hits in five consecutive games, their longest such streak since 2021. Brandon Nimmo reached 50 extra-base hits, making the 2025 Mets just the tenth team in franchise history with four batters hitting that mark.
Jacob deGrom’s return was more than just a single game. It was a homecoming, a reminder of what he meant to the Mets and what he still brings to the mound. With his family in attendance—just as they were for his debut in 2014—deGrom reached 162 innings pitched for the season, qualifying for the ERA title for the first time since 2020. "I wanted a chance to pitch here," deGrom said. "I knew it was late, but I wanted that chance."
Manager Bruce Bochy lauded his ace’s composure, saying, "They are playing with a lot of confidence right now. They are finding ways to put runs on the board. And sometimes things get contagious. They start doing the little things to help win ballgames. They put the ball in play and did a great job. I’m sure Jacob had a lot of emotions running through his head tonight, but he did a great job of controlling them."
As the Rangers chase a playoff berth, winning 15 of their last 19 games, deGrom’s strong outing at Citi Field brings them ever closer to October baseball. For the Mets, the walk-off win on Sunday offers a glimmer of hope for a late-season turnaround. With young arms like Nolan McLean emerging and sluggers like Pete Alonso stepping up, the Mets still have plenty to play for as the regular season winds down.
Friday night’s emotional return for deGrom, the viral stat debacle, and the Mets’ ongoing quest for consistency all combined to make this one of the most memorable weeks of the 2025 baseball season. The story continues, with both teams’ playoff hopes and legacies still very much in play.
