HOUSTON (AP) — Juan Soto hit his first homer with the New York Mets, helping his new team beat the Houston Astros 3-1 on Friday night. With two out in the third inning, Soto drove a 1-2 pitch from Hunter Brown deep to right for a solo shot that lifted New York to a 3-0 lead.

The New York Mets had a difficult task opening the 2025 season on the road against the Houston Astros, who have won the AL West eight of the last nine years and still have one of the best teams in the major leagues.

“It almost felt scripted,” wrote the New York Daily News’ Abbey Mastracco. “Making his long-awaited Mets debut, Soto, the superstar slugger who chose the Mets over the Yankees as a free agent in December, was up to bat with a chance to be a hero.”