Mets take shots at Jameson as they say cheers to victory over Cubs

Mets 7 Cubs 2 (Citi Field, Flushing, NY)

Mets record: 25-14

Mets streak: Won 2

WP - Clay Holmes (5-1)

LP - Jameson Taillon (2-2)

Seat on the Korner:

We select the star of the game and virtually invite him to a Seat on the Korner, just as Ralph Kiner used to do for his studio postgame show on WOR-channel 9 broadcasts in the early decades of the Mets.

Friday's win was a true team effort. Every Met in the starting lineup had at least one hit. Francisco Lindor had three hits including a homer. Brett Baty had two hits including a homer. Juan Soto had two hits including a homer. Any of those players could have occupied the seat. But let's give it up for Clay Holmes, who went 6 innings and gave up just one run against a team that has scored more runs than anyone in baseball in the Mets' 7-2 victory.

Need to Know

• With the win, the Mets are now 14-3 at home.

• The Cubs' third loss in a row leaves the Mets as the only team in the majors to not have a three game losing streak.

• Every Met in the starting lineup had at least one hit tonight.

• The four home runs by Lindor, Baty, Jeff McNeil and Soto were the first four home runs by lefties off Taillon this season. The previous six that he gave up were all against righties.

• Ryne Stanek pitched a clean inning in the 7th.

• Dedniel Nunez got himself in trouble with two walks in the 8th, but with two runners on he got a massive strikeout of Kyle Tucker for the second out, then Reed Garrett came in to get Seiya Suzuki to fly out to end the most dangerous threat the Cubs had.

• Lindor's leadoff home run was his 4th leadoff HR of the season, and 24th time he's led off an inning with a dinger.

• Kyle Tucker's 4th inning home run was the first home run off Clay Holmes all season (the 167th hitter that Holmes faced.)

• Lindor debuted a new walk up song: "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" written by Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson, and recorded by recorded by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. Don't worry, My Girl isn't going anywhere, but the two songs will be alternated. (Worth noting that Lindor recorded two hits with "My Girl", and one hit while walking up to "Mountain".)

Turning Point

It turned at the start.

Francisco Lindor's solo HR to lead off the game was as much a turning point in the game as it was a turning point against a guy who has owned the Mets in his career. Jameson Taillon had a 4-0 record with a 1.96 ERA against the Mets in his career, and a 1-0 record with a 2.31 ERA with a WHIP of 0.81 in his last four starts. Lindor's leadoff dinger was a sign that "yes, we can hit this guy", as I'm sure the guys in that dugout had it at least in the back of their minds. Three more hitters would go yard off Taillon en route to the victory.

Three Keys

The Right Buttons

Much was made about the Mets playing Baty at third base instead of Mark Vientos. With Vientos struggling and Baty a better breaking ball hitter than Vientos, the move made a lot of sense. It made more sense in the second inning.

When Baty was sent down, I was asked "when does he get traded?" But that's not how this organization works. Things have a tendency to work themselves out, and when Jesse Winker went down with the oblique Baty got his chance. He took full advantage tonight, thanks to Carlos Mendoza having the pulse of the team.

Right Where They Want Him

OF the nine hits the Mets got off Taillon, 8 of them were with two strikes, and 6 of those were on 0-2 or 1-2 counts. They were locked in to Taillon, a guy who owned them throughout his career.

Touching up Taillon to lead off the series with their history against him, and with the Cubs pitching staff in flux (they're reportedly giving rookie Cade Horton his first major league start on Saturday against them) seems extra important.

Starter Energy Unlocked

Ron Darling noticed from jump that Holmes had more run on his pitches than he has all season. The amount of inches on his break were confirmed to be nasty by Gary Cohen. Holmes picked the right team to come up with the best off speed pitches he's thrown this season.

Holmes had three walks, which might speak to harnessing that newfound break, but even when Holmes got into trouble, he dipped into his arsenal to work his way out of it.

I'd say the transition from closer to starter is complete.