Apr 7, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets pinch hitter Ronny Mauricio (0) celebrates after hitting an RBI walk-off single during the tenth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
QUEENS, NY — Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said that Ronny Mauricio had to be ready at any time, despite warning him that his opportunities would be limited upon his call-up from Triple-A on Monday.
He didn’t have to wait too long to get a chance, and to play the hero, as the reserve infielder walked the Mets off to a 4-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks with a game-winning pinch-hit single to the right-field warning track off Paul Sewald in his first at-bat of the season, to cap off a late comeback and lift New York (7-4) to a fourth straight win.
“It was incredible,” Mauricio said. “First at-bat of the year and to see the ball go over [the right fielder’s] head. It’s really special there.”
Falling behind 0-2 in the count, Sewald grooved a 90-mph fastball middle-middle, and Mauricio cracked it 107.1 mph off the bat.
“I’m proud of him,” Mendoza said. “I’m glad that he was able to get the job done. Big moment for him, for the team. They know how hard it’s been for him… He comes back up today and gets a huge hit for us. It goes to show you that we’re going to need everyone here. Everyone that walks through those doors is important, and they’re going to contribute.”
Mauricio’s call-up came in the corresponding move after superstar left fielder Juan Soto was placed on the 10-day injured list for a strained calf muscle, with Mendoza explaining that the 25-year-old was brought in for infield insurance with Brett Baty dealing with a jammed thumb and first baseman/DH Jorge Polanco battling a bout of Achilles tendinitis.
“I took it well,” Mauricio said of Mendoza’s conversation with him about the expected lack of playing time. “I was really appreciative of the conversation that we had. He was very clear, very transparent. We know what the situation is right now. So right now, I’m just here to help the team out in any way possible, and I’ll be ready once my name is called.”
The Mets drew level at three apiece in the bottom of the eighth inning after Jared Young’s pinch-hit sacrifice fly off former Yankees reliever Jonathan Loaisiga, who yielded singles to Polanco and Baty.
Heavy winds blowing in from left field might have kept Young’s high drive in the yard, as the ball left his bat at 106.3 mph.
In what will be the first of an undoubted many instances, the Mets were burned by Major League Baseball’s ABS challenge system, as a key overturned forced them to play catch-up in the latter innings.
Nursing a 2-0 lead with two outs in the fifth, reliever Huascar Brazoban appeared to get out of a bases-loaded jam when he got Adrian Del Castillo looking at a 1-2 changeup on the outside corner. Arizona challenged the call, and the ABS system deemed that the pitch was 0.3 inches outside, giving Del Castillo another life.
On the very next pitch, he laced a changeup into right field for a game-tying, two-run single. Nolan Arenado followed with a bloop double to score the go-ahead run to put the Diamondbacks up 3-2.
“That particular spot right there when there’s traffic, when there’s runners on, and you think you executed your pitch, you get the call, and then the hitter challenges and you have to get back on the mound, that’s not an easy situation,” Mendoza said. “It’s new for all of us here. You think you’re out of the woods, and before you know it, you gotta get back on the mound.”
All three runs were charged to starting pitcher Freddy Peralta, who got the first two outs of the fifth, then allowed a single to Corbin Carroll before walking Geraldo Perdomo.
At 97 pitches, manager Carlos Mendoza hit the top step to take him out, but Peralta told the skipper to stay in the dugout, which he did. He got ahead 1-2 on Gabriel Moreno, then hit him with a curveball in what was his final pitch of the afternoon.
“As a pitcher in that situation, if I ask for an extra hitter, I have to make sure that I finish,” Peralta said. “Hopefully, I can replace that in the future and get better at it.”
He struggled with his stuff for most of the day due to the blustery conditions in Queens on Tuesday evening, with first pitch being moved up three hours to 4:10 p.m. ET to avoid higher winds and colder temperatures. Over 4.2 innings, he yielded three hits and three walks to go with the three runs that were charged on his ledger.
“It was a battle,” Peralta said. “Since the first pitch of the game, I knew. I was a little uncomfortable. It’s going to happen. We’re gonna have days like that. For a moment I thought I was going to be able to finisht he fifth, but I couldn’t.”
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