Baseball

Freddy Peralta Thrives as Mets Deliver Stunning Support in Opening Day Win

by
Richard Hayes
March 26, 2026

Freddy Peralta got exactly what he asked for from the Mets’ offense on Opening Day, and they didn’t disappoint. Just half an inning into Thursday’s matchup against the Pirates, New York delivered an impressive five-run first inning, quickly turning the tide after a rocky start. After the Pirates took an early lead with a two-run homer from Brandon Lowe, the Mets rallied, chasing reigning Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes from the mound.

The highlight of the first inning was a bases-clearing triple by Brett Baty, which energized the crowd and set the tone for the rest of the game. “It was amazing,” Peralta remarked. “I asked them earlier today, I said I need some runs from you guys, and I was sitting there like damn, this is crazy.” The excitement didn’t stop there, as the Mets would go on to score six more runs over the next seven innings, securing a thrilling season-opening victory.

After the early setback, Peralta found his rhythm, retiring eight consecutive batters. However, he faced another challenge when Lowe took him deep again, this time launching a shot 401 feet to right-center. Despite some bumps in the road, Peralta managed to finish strong, wrapping up his outing with seven strikeouts, including a crucial strikeout of Bryan Reynolds, who represented the tying run at the plate.

“Other than the two mistakes, I thought he was good,” said Carlos Mendoza, reflecting on Peralta’s performance. “They put together some really good at-bats — fought off pitches, laid off tough ones, ran his pitch count up, but he was able to get through five.”

With just one start under his belt at Citi Field, Peralta can already sense a different atmosphere. “The energy from the first pitch to the last one, you can feel it,” he stated. “It was amazing; I think personally it’s something that helps me to get better. I can’t wait to see it that same way the rest of the season.”

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.

Richard Hayes

Richard Hayes is the go-to writer for all things soccer at 21Sports.com. His international perspective and in-depth knowledge of the game have made him a trusted voice in the industry. Richard’s experience covering major leagues around the world allows him to offer unique insights that resonate with both casual fans and die-hard enthusiasts. When not covering matches, Richard enjoys coaching youth soccer in his community.