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**Mets Crush Tigers Behind Alonso’s Two Homers, Soto’s Surge, and McLean’s Mastery**
**DETROIT –** The New York Mets continued their offensive onslaught, defeating the Detroit Tigers 12-5 on Tuesday night, fueled by Pete Alonso’s two home runs, Juan Soto’s red-hot streak, and a stellar performance from rookie pitcher Nolan McLean.
McLean (4-0) earned his fourth major league win in as many appearances, becoming the first Mets pitcher to achieve the feat. After a shaky first inning, McLean settled in, retiring his final 14 batters. He finished with two runs on three hits and three walks, striking out seven in six innings.
Alonso launched a towering 435-foot home run in the first inning, followed by another in the seventh. Soto also blasted a solo shot, his 37th of the season and fifth in the past five games. Luis Torrens added a three-run homer as part of a five-run fourth inning for the Mets.
The Mets’ offense exploded for 17 hits. Jeff McNeil drove in three runs and finished with three hits, while Brandon Nimmo and Brett Baty also contributed three hits each.
The Tigers (lost seven of nine) took an early 2-0 lead in the first, but starter Sawyer Gipson-Long (0-2), making his first appearance since August 13, struggled. He allowed six runs on five hits in four innings. Chris Paddack, recently moved to the bullpen, had a rough outing, surrendering six runs and eight hits in just 1 1/3 innings.
The Mets are now five games ahead of Cincinnati and San Francisco for the final National League wild card spot.
Soto’s homer comes after his historic performance Monday, where he became the first player in the modern era to hit a go-ahead grand slam and a go-ahead triple that scored more than one run in the same game.
Clay Holmes is scheduled to start for the Mets on Wednesday, while Casey Mize will take the mound for the Tigers.
First Piper 