Full Breakdown
Jonah Tong’s First 2026 Start Powers Mets to 9-4 Victory Over Marlins
9/8/2026, 4:00:42 AM
Core Event
On Monday at LoanDepot Park, rookie right-hander Jonah Tong earned the win in his first major-league start of the 2026 season as the New York Mets defeated the Miami Marlins 9-4. Tong pitched five innings, allowing four runs (five earned per ESPN) on four hits, one walk and one hit-by-pitch while striking out seven. The Mets’ offense produced 16 hits, highlighted by a three-hit, three-RBI effort from rookie A.J. Ewing and go-ahead RBI singles from Bo Bichette in the fourth inning.
Background & Context
Tong’s promotion followed a strong stretch in Triple-A Syracuse, where he posted a 1.43 ERA with 179 strikeouts in 113.2 innings during the 2025 season and a 4.54 ERA over 23 starts this year. After a brief debut in August 2025 that yielded a 7.71 ERA, he returned to the bullpen in May-June 2026, posting a 3.60 ERA in three relief appearances. Mets interim manager Andy Green said the club intends to keep Tong in the rotation for the final weeks of the season.
Data & Statistics
- Jonah Tong: 5 IP, 7 K, 4 R (5 ER per ESPN), 4 H, 1 BB, 1 HBP.
- Mets offense: 16 H, 9 R, 3 HR (including Graham Pauley’s three-run shot for Miami).
- Eury Pérez (Marlins starter): 4 IP, 7 R (5 ER), 10 H, 3 BB.
- Mets bullpen: four relievers each threw one inning; combined four scoreless innings.
- Season context: Mets (66-78) improved to within one game of fourth place in the NL East; Tong improved to 2-1 with a 4.80 ERA over four appearances.
Official Statements & Responses
Andy Green praised Tong’s resilience, noting that “the second inning is one of those things that, like, the only hits he gives up all day are sequenced together right there, and the home run bites pretty hard at that point in time.” He added the club will continue to give Tong opportunities, emphasizing his recent “good run” in Triple-A.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Last year, I felt like a kid going out there every time, being shell-shocked,” — Jonah Tong
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the number of earned runs charged to Tong. The ESPN recap records five earned runs, while Field Level Media and the New York Post describe four total runs without specifying earned runs. No official clarification has been issued.
What’s Next
The Mets are slated to start left-hander Sean Manaea (4-7, 4.70 ERA) against Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara (13-9, 3.54 ERA) on Tuesday, with Tong remaining in the rotation for the remainder of the season.