Soderstrom’s Two-Homer Game Lifts A’s Past Mets, 11-6

The Oakland Athletics came to Queens on Saturday and reminded the New York Mets exactly why you can’t afford to let visiting teams get comfortable at Citi Field. In what amounted to a masterclass in early offensive aggression, the A’s pummeled Kodai Senga and the Mets’ bullpen en route to an 11-6 victory that felt far more decisive than the final score suggests.

Let’s start with the obvious culprit in the Mets’ loss: Kodai Senga was an absolute disaster. The man lasted just 2.1 innings, surrendering eight hits and seven runs while walking two. For a starting pitcher in April, that’s the kind of line that gets you a one-way ticket to the minor leagues if you keep it up. Senga looked lost out there, unable to establish any rhythm or command whatsoever. The Athletics were hunting fastballs from the opening pitch, and Senga obliged them at every turn.

The third inning was the backbreaker. That’s when the A’s put up five runs, with Carlos Cortes hammering a three-run shot and Tyler Soderstrom going deep for a two-run blast. Suddenly, the Mets found themselves in a hole they couldn’t climb out of, despite some solid individual performances scattered throughout the afternoon.

Soderstrom’s Masterpiece

Tyler Soderstrom was the story of the day, plain and simple. The Athletics catcher went 3-for-5 with two home runs and five RBIs, serving as the cleanup crew for Oakland’s offensive onslaught. That second-inning two-run shot was important, but that eighth-inning three-run bomb in particular showed just how thoroughly the A’s owned this game. Soderstrom isn’t a household name yet, but performances like this are exactly how you build a reputation. The kid can flat out hit.

Lopez Steady, Mets Lifeless

Jacob Lopez earned the win for Oakland by pitching five solid innings, allowing seven hits and five earned runs while striking out five. It wasn’t pristine, but it was exactly what the A’s needed. Lopez gave his team a chance to win, and his teammates did the rest. That’s all you can ask from your starting pitcher.

The Mets mounted some semblance of a comeback, with Bo Bichette hitting a two-run homer and Francisco Alvarez (after a review overturned the initial call) adding a solo shot. Jorge Polanco, apparently adjusting nicely to his new team, launched a solo shot of his own in the seventh. But none of it mattered. The damage had been done early and often.

Here’s the reality: the Mets can’t afford to spot visiting teams five runs in the third inning and expect to compete in this league. Senga’s performance was inexcusable. You simply cannot put your team in that position. Manager Carlos Mendoza will have some difficult conversations to have with his staff about consistency and execution. Francisco Lindor even admitted post-game that he needs to be better, which suggests the entire lineup recognizes they underperformed on Saturday.

This was a statement win for Oakland. The Athletics are now winners of four straight, and they did it by out-muscling a Mets team that came into this game with playoff aspirations. That’s the kind of performance that builds confidence heading into the rest of April. For New York, it’s a wake-up call they didn’t need but apparently deserved.