The third inning changed everything. Down 1-0 after a quiet start, Oakland exploded for six runs in a single frame to seize control and never looked back, defeating the Mets 11-6 at Citi Field.
Tyler Soderstrom carried the Athletics' offense with a dominant performance, going 3-for-5 with two home runs and five RBIs. His first blast, a two-run shot to right center in the third, sparked the decisive rally. His second homer in the eighth, a three-run drive that traveled 420 feet, put the game away for good. Carlos Cortes added his own three-run homer in that pivotal third inning, capping Oakland's six-run outburst.
The Mets struck first when Bichette singled home Robert Jr. in the opening frame, but that early lead evaporated quickly. After Oakland tied it in the second on Clarke's RBI walk, the third inning belonged entirely to the visitors. Soderstrom's two-run homer made it 4-1, then Cortes launched his three-run shot to extend the lead to 7-1.
New York mounted a spirited comeback attempt, with Bichette delivering a two-run homer in the fifth and solo shots from Francisco Alvarez and Jorge Polanco cutting the deficit to 7-6 by the seventh. But Oakland answered immediately in the eighth, scoring four more runs highlighted by Soderstrom's second homer. Jacob Lopez earned the win despite allowing five runs over five innings, while Kodai Senga took the loss after surrendering seven runs in just 2.1 innings.
The victory extended Oakland's winning streak to three games and improved their record to 6-7, while the Mets fell to 7-7 with their third straight loss. Jeff McNeil is now five doubles away from 200 career doubles, while Bo Bichette sits eight away from the same milestone.