Friday Five series spotlights travel dreams and a Mets comeback win

Juan Soto’s solo homer in the seventh inning lifted the New York Mets to a 5‑4 win over the St. Louis Cardinals, keeping the team from being swept at home and preserving a slim chance in the NL wild‑card race【1】. The same day, the “Friday Five” blog series continued its tradition of themed personal lists, this time focusing on travel memories and aspirations【2】.

Key takeaways

• Juan Soto’s seventh‑inning homer was his 14th of the season and secured the Mets’ victory【1】.
• The Mets’ win prevented a sweep and kept them from falling ten games below .500【1】.
• The “Friday Five” series invites readers to share five items on a chosen theme, such as travel【2】.
• The travel‑themed post highlights the author’s love of Italy, fear of night driving, and desire to live in New York for a year【2】.
• Earlier “Friday Five” posts have also explored “new” experiences, including a redesign of the blog and a Kickstarter project for a cookbook【3】.

Mets rally on a rainy Thursday night

After two lopsided losses to the Cardinals, the Mets entered Citi Field with a 5‑4 lead thanks to Soto’s two‑out solo shot in the bottom of the seventh. Soto, who had struggled with a 3‑for‑32 slump earlier in the month, broke his funk with a double in the fifth that set up a run before delivering the decisive homer【1】. Pitcher Christian Scott, who had previously allowed just one run over 16 ⅓ innings in his last three starts, gave up four runs in 4 ⅔ innings, including three homers, marking a season‑high for runs allowed【1】. The bullpen held the lead, and Devin Williams recorded his first save since May 27【1】.

Friday Five: A personal list format that sparks community sharing

The “Friday Five” blog, originally called “The Friday Five,” encourages contributors to list five items related to a monthly theme. In the travel edition, the author shared a love for Italian culture despite never having visited Italy, a growing anxiety about night driving, a wish to spend a year in New York, favorite travel shows, and a penchant for dressing for specific destinations【2】. Comments from readers added anecdotes, such as a tin‑opener confiscation at a French airport, illustrating the interactive nature of the series. Earlier posts under the “new” theme highlighted a blog redesign, the launch of New Inklings Press, and a Kickstarter campaign for a cookbook, showing the series’ flexibility to cover both personal passions and creative projects【3】.

Why it matters

The Mets’ win, while a single game, underscores the thin margin between a struggling season and a potential wild‑card push, as noted by pitcher David Peterson who emphasized the need for consistent, incremental success【1】. Simultaneously, the “Friday Five” format provides a low‑barrier platform for individuals to share personal interests, fostering community engagement across topics as varied as travel dreams and sports moments. Together, these stories illustrate how a simple list‑based blog can intersect with real‑time events, offering readers both relatable personal narratives and timely sports coverage.