Jeff McNeil flipped his bat and began jogging to first base with his hands clasped behind his back in celebration as he turned toward the Mets dugout. 

The Mets had scratched, using a makeshift pitching alignment, to remain in this game against the Yankees on Friday but still needed a last Fourth of July fireworks barrage. 

Boom. 

“I don’t hit that many home runs in that situation, so to do it, I enjoyed that one,” McNeil said after his two-run blast in the seventh propelled the Mets to a 6-5 victory at Citi Field. 

Jeff McNeil put the Mets ahead with a homer in the seventh inning on July 4, 2025 against the Yankees. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

Jeff McNeil celebrates his game-winning homer. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

Jeff McNeil made a defensive gem in the ninth inning to help the Mets over the Yankees. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

The Mets smashed three homers in winning their third straight, further distancing them from a horrid stretch that included a three-game beatdown in Pittsburgh last weekend in which a players only meeting was held. 

The Mets celebrate their win. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

The Yankees lost their fifth straight, continuing their recent pitching slump. On this day, it was Luke Weaver delivering the disappointment with a blown save in the seventh. 

Pete Alonso’s two-out walk in the seventh gave the Mets a pulse before McNeil unloaded on a full-count changeup from Weaver to put the Mets ahead. 

If that wasn’t enough, McNeil’s lunging grab and throw to first on DJ LeMahieu’s one-hop bloop in the ninth prevented the Yankees from putting the tying run on base in what became a 1-2-3 inning. 

“When that ball hit my glove, I said, ‘Oh, s- -t, it’s in my glove,’ ” McNeil said. “I know it was a big play. I knew [Aaron] Judge was up fourth that inning and we didn’t want him coming to the plate. That’s why I was so excited about that one.” 

Juan Soto had a huge day for the Mets on Friday. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

Reed Garrett pitched the final two innings scoreless for the save, with Edwin Díaz unavailable following back-to-back appearances. If Garrett couldn’t have pitched the ninth, manager Carlos Mendoza likely would have deployed left-hander Richard Lovelady. 

“This is a huge series,” Garrett said. “This is what everybody in New York looks forward to, so to get the last six [outs] was big for me.” 

Marcus Stroman, in his second start off the injured list, gave the Yankees a chance by limiting the Mets to three runs on seven hits and one walk with four strikeouts over five innings. Stroman was removed at 81 pitches. 

Luke Weaver gave up the game-deciding homer. Robert Sabo for NY Post

Brett Baty homered in the Mets’ win. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

Justin Hagenman, in his third MLB appearance and first start, fell into a 2-0 hole by surrendering homers to the first two batters he faced, Jasson Domínguez and Judge.

Domínguez, who appeared struck out on a pitch that was called a ball by plate umpire Mike Estabrook earlier in the at-bat, launched a full-count sinker for his seventh homer. Judge hit a sinker for homer No. 32. 

Aaron Judge homered in the first inning for the Yankees. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

Jasson Dominguez went deep twice. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

“That’s not the start you are looking to get off to,” said Hagenman, who allowed four runs on five hits over 4 ¹/₃ innings. “But to keep the team in the game and give them a chance to win is all I am looking for.” 

The Mets recovered the runs in the bottom of the inning. After Domínguez froze on Brandon Nimmo’s shot to left leading off the inning — the ball eluded Domínguez’s outstretched glove for a double — Juan Soto tied it with a two-run homer. 

Soto received a standing ovation before the at-bat, a response by Mets fans after the star outfielder was booed and taunted throughout the team’s visit to Yankee Stadium in May. Soto jumped on a 1-2 cutter from Stroman and cleared the fence in left-center for his team-leading 21st homer of the season. 

The Mets celebrate their win over the Yankees. Robert Sabo for NY Post

“I’m trying to take my chances when I swing the bat,” said Soto, who earned National League Player of the Month honors for June with a 1.196 OPS. 

The Mets went ahead 3-2 in the third on Alonso’s RBI single off Anthony Volpe’s glove after Soto had doubled against Stroman with one out. 

Hagenman surrendered his third solo homer of the day, a shot by Cody Bellinger leading off the fourth, tying it 3-3. Bellinger’s 13th of the season gave him three in four games against the Mets this season. 

New York Mets pitcher Reed Garrett (75) reacts to closing the win. Robert Sabo for NY Post

Domínguez’s second homer of the game sank the Mets into a 5-3 hole. Hagenman was removed after allowing a one-out single to LeMahieu, and Domínguez greeted Austin Warren by clearing the left field fence. 

Brett Baty’s solo homer in the sixth against Ian Hamilton sliced the Yankees’ lead to 5-4, putting the Mets in position to strike in the seventh with McNeil’s blast. 

“It’s what you expect out of games like this,” Mendoza said. “Subway Series, packed house, fan base intense going after each other. I’m glad we got the job done today.”