Juan Sotos strong throwing arm helps Mets win seventh straight game

Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets.On one occasion, the Phillies regretted taking a chance against Juan Soto.On two occasions, they did not bother.None of these three involved Soto in the batter’s box.The Mets did not make Soto their $765 million man because of his left arm, but that throwing arm still helped them win a game.“I try my best to come through with the bat,” Soto said after the 4-3, walk-off victory over the Phillies at Citi Field that finished off a perfect homestand.

“But whenever the bat doesn’t come through, I’ve got to do something else.”On Wednesday, that meant throwing three darts to home plate from right field in a dramatic game in which every run mattered.In the second inning, the Phillies had loaded the bases with one out for Johan Rojas, who lifted a fly ball to shallow right.Soto camped under it, caught it, and unleashed a throw that arrived to catcher Hayden Senger on the fly, Alec Bohm retreating back to third base.

David Peterson then retired Trea Turner to keep the game scoreless.It was a 2-2 game in the eighth inning when the Phillies put runners on first and second before Max Kepler drove a single into right field.Soto charged, fielded cleanly and “just let it go,” he said.The strong throw reached Senger quickly, but the one-hopper was “a little bit offline,” Soto acknowledged, and slightly up the first base line.

Senger caught it and lunged to the plate, where his glove beat a sliding Nick Castellanos.“I thought it was a really good and a well-executed play,” said manager Carlos Mendoza, who was particularly complimentary of Senger’s end.“He’s got to catch, reach for it, and then quickly apply the tag, not knowing where the runner’s coming [from], which angle he’s going to slide.”“Great tag,” Soto echoed.The run-preventing play helped send the game into extra innings, where once more Soto�...