As the Mets have continued their surge in July, J.D. Martinez had been on the outside looking in.
In the month of July, Martinez came into Friday’s game slashing .200/.293/.292 and had only driven in six runs. He hadn’t hit a homer since July 1.
Jul 26, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets designated hitter J.D. Martinez (28) celebrates after hitting a grand slam home run during the third inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
But on Friday night, Martinez looked like his old self. The righty mashed the Braves, including the momentum-shifting hit of the game.
With the Mets trailing 2-0 heading into the third inning, Martinez stepped to the plate with the bases juiced and no outs. What followed was a classic, opposite-field homer from Martinez that sparked a seven-run inning for the Mets. It was Martinez’s eighth grand slam of his career.
Overall, Martinez dominated at the plate on Friday night against the Braves. He was 3-for-4 with four RBIs and a run scored. It was only his second homer of July, and the four RBIs on Friday almost matched his six total from the month.
Martinez’s performance powered the Mets to an 8-4 win over the Braves. The victory claimed sole possession of second place in the National League East and the first overall wild card.
OMG, J.D. gives the Mets the lead in GRAND style ????pic.twitter.com/TabzL31sAc
— Metsmerized Online (@Metsmerized) July 27, 2024
“A month ago no one thought we were gonna be here,” Martinez said after the game. “We just want to keep the vibes positive, keep everything good and happy, and let’s just keep rolling.”
If the Mets continue to roll, they’ll need Martinez. The veteran is slashing .265/.345/.451 this season with 16 doubles, 11 home runs, 44 RBIs, and 30 runs scored. He’s been an easy pencil-in to bat third every night and has been at the forefront of the Mets’ turnaround.
Still, the Mets and Martinez have more work to do. The Mets have two more games against the Braves this weekend and have a chance to build some room at the top of the wild card standings. The Mets would also win the season series against the Braves with a four-game sweep at Citi Field, with only three more games against their NL East rival in September.
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