Luke Weaver struck out the heart of the Yankees order with the bases loaded Saturday night, then sprinted to cover first base for a double play an inning later, silencing the Stadium faithful who watched their former setup man dominate in a 6-3 Mets victory at Citi Field. The right-hander earned every penny of his $22 million two-year deal — the contract the Yankees never offered after showing only “mild interest” in bringing him back last offseason.
Juan Soto went 4-for-4 against his old club while Devin Williams locked down the save, completing the ex-Yankee trifecta that exposed the organization’s offseason mistakes. Three former pinstripes carried the Mets to victory in a Subway Series that reminded everyone what happens when the front office lowballs talent.
How It Unfolded
The Yankees handed the Mets two runs in the third when Carlos Rodón uncorked a wild pitch with the bases loaded, then compounded the disaster with an errant throw home trying to be a hero. Rodón admitted afterward, “That was a stupid play. I tried to make a superhero play.”
Brett Baty extended the lead to 3-1 in the fourth with an RBI double off Rodón, who lasted just 3.2 innings in his second start back from elbow surgery. The Yankees’ ace threw 88 pitches and surrendered three runs while walking three — exactly the kind of performance that loses big games.
The real gut punch arrived in the seventh after Carson Benge misplayed a fly ball into an error, loading the bases with nobody out and the Yankees down just two runs. Manager Aaron Boone watched Weaver enter and destroy any comeback hopes by fanning Amed Rosario and Trent Grisham before inducing a groundout from Anthony Volpe.
The Star of the Show
Weaver dominated the moment that defined this Luke Weaver Yankees Mets storyline. He attacked the strike zone with zero fear, then returned for a clean eighth inning that included his full-speed sprint to first base completing a 3-6-1 double play.
“Unicorn stuff; he’s great,” Soto said of his new teammate. “He comes in and shows no fear and attacks the hitters and gets the job done.”
The Yankees let Weaver walk for $11 million annually while watching their bullpen implode throughout April and May. Saturday night proved exactly what that decision cost them — a reliable arm now shutting them down in critical spots while wearing the wrong uniform.
What Fans Are Saying
Yankee faithful watched three ex-Bombers dismantle their squad while the $162 million pitcher they kept struggled through four innings. The anger intensified when Soto — who the Yankees traded to clear payroll — reached base four straight times and Williams slammed the door in the ninth.
The front office chose Rodón’s massive contract over Weaver’s reasonable deal. They watched Soto flourish elsewhere while their lineup scraped together just three runs. The organization made choices, and Saturday night exposed every single one.
What’s Next
The Mets won their fourth game in five tries despite losing closer Clay Holmes to a fractured fibula Friday night. They survived the injury bug through pitching depth — the kind built by signing guys like Luke Weaver Yankees Mets instead of letting them escape to Queens.
The Yankees face a rubber game Sunday carrying the weight of missed opportunities and lowball offers. Rodón needs to stretch deeper into games. The offense needs to solve ex-teammates wearing Mets blue. And the front office needs to answer why they let Weaver haunt them for $11 million annually.
Championship organizations pay the players who produce. The rest watch those players celebrate across town.