Juan Soto's Homer Lifts Mets Past Royals 3-1

Saturday, July 12th, 2025

Juan Soto homered to lead the New York Mets past the Kansas City Royals 3-1 on Saturday at Kauffman Stadium.

Soto’s two-run shot into the right field fountains opened the scoring in the fourth inning. Over his last 20 games, Soto has hit nine home runs and driven in 19 runs.

Frankie Montas (2-1) earned the win for the Mets. He threw first-pitch strikes to 14 of 19 batters while allowing one run on four hits and striking out five over his outing.

The Royals cut into the lead in the sixth inning when Kyle Isbel and Jonathan India opened the frame with doubles, reducing the Mets lead to 2-1. India finished the game with two of the Royals' four hits, both doubles.

Reed Garrett relieved Montas and permitted India to advance to third base on a wild pickoff attempt before retiring the heart of the Royals lineup, stranding the potential tying run.

Jeff McNeil provided an insurance run for the Mets with a two-out RBI single in the ninth inning, extending the lead to 3-1.

Edwin Díaz pitched the final two innings, allowing one walk but no hits, to earn his 19th save of the season.

Scheduled Royals starter Michael Lorenzen missed the game due to illness.

Jonathan Bowlan (1-2) took the loss for Kansas City. As the second of six Royals bullpen pitchers used, he threw three innings, allowing two runs on four hits, including Soto’s 435-foot home run.

For the second straight game in the series, the Mets successfully challenged a safe call on a Royals stolen base attempt. In both instances — Tyler Tolbert on Friday and Bobby Witt Jr. on Saturday — the runner did not maintain contact with the base during a head-first slide.

Bobby Witt Jr. popped up twice with runners in scoring position, and his 14-game hitting streak came to an end. The Royals struggled offensively with runners in scoring position, batting just 1-for-17 through the first two games of the series.

Key Moment

With a runner at third and the infield drawn in during the sixth inning, Mets first baseman Pete Alonso made a diving stop of Vinnie Pasquantino’s sharp grounder. The crucial defensive play preserved the Mets' one-run lead at the time.

Key Stat

Juan Soto leads Major League Baseball with 77 walks this season, which is the most in New York Mets history prior to the All-Star break.

Up Next

The New York Mets and Kansas City Royals conclude their series on Sunday. Mets right-handed pitcher Clay Holmes (8-4, 3.29 ERA) is scheduled to oppose Royals left-handed pitcher Noah Cameron (3-4, 2.56 ERA).

In summary

The New York Mets defeated the Kansas City Royals 3-1 on Saturday, July 12, 2025, in Kansas City. Juan Soto's two-run home run in the fourth inning provided the winning runs. Frankie Montas earned the victory, and Edwin Díaz recorded the save. The Mets' defense and timely hitting, including an insurance run in the ninth by Jeff McNeil, secured the win. The Royals' offense struggled, particularly with runners in scoring position, and Bobby Witt Jr.'s hitting streak ended. Juan Soto leads MLB in walks and set a Mets pre-All-Star break record.

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