Mets hit 3 homers off E-Rod and play dazzling defense in 8-3 win over Diamondbacks

NEW YORK (AP) — Francisco Lindor and Starling Marte each hit an early two-run homer, and the New York Mets put on a dazzling display of sparkling defense Tuesday night in their 8-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Pete Alonso also went deep off an ineffective Eduardo Rodriguez (1-3) as the Mets improved to 21-9, the top record in the majors. They are 13-1 at Citi Field, the best home start in franchise history.

Handed a 7-0 cushion after the third, David Peterson (2-1) yielded one run over five innings to help deal the Diamondbacks their fifth loss in six games. He was boosted by highlight-worthy fielding plays from Tyrone Taylor in center field, Lindor at shortstop and Alonso at first base.

Taylor had an RBI double in a four-run second and an RBI single in a three-run third. Luisangel Acuña singled twice, stole a base and scored two runs.

Mets outfielder Juan Soto was shaken up after landing hard on his right shoulder while trying for a diving catch of Jorge Barrosa's run-scoring double in the fifth. The $765 million slugger was checked quickly by an athletic trainer and finished the game.

Rodriguez was tagged for eight runs and nine hits in four innings, the most runs he'd allowed since giving up nine in 2 2/3 innings with Boston against Tampa Bay on June 27, 2016. The left-hander served up three homers after not permitting any in his previous five road starts.

Arizona newcomer Corbin Burnes (0-1, 4.05 ERA) starts the middle game of the series Wednesday night, seeking his first win since signing a $210 million contract as a coveted free agent.

New York planned to call up 30-year-old lefty Brandon Waddell from Triple-A Syracuse to pitch some portion of the game in his Mets debut as the team gives RHP Kodai Senga his customary fifth day of rest.

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John Mayer throws out a ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the New York Mets and the Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' David Peterson (23) pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Eduardo Rodriguez (57) pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez, right, reacts as New York Mets' Francisco Lindor runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez reacts as New York Mets' Pete Alonso runs the bases after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez reacts as New York Mets' Starling Marte runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Starling Marte, right, celebrates with Pete Alonso after they scored on a two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Juan Soto dives for a ball hit by Arizona Diamondbacks' Jorge Barrosa for an RBI double during the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' David Peterson pitches during the second inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Pete Alonso hits a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez, right, reacts as New York Mets' Francisco Lindor runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (12) watches as fans reach for a ball hit by New York Mets' Starling Marte for a two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Starling Marte hits a two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Pete Alonso, left, celebrates with Francisco Lindor after Lindor hit a two-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Francisco Lindor hits a two-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — A former Polish justice minister who faces prosecution in his homeland over alleged abuse of power said Monday that he has been granted asylum in Hungary.

Zbigniew Ziobro was a key figure in the government led by the nationalist conservative Law and Justice party that ran Poland between 2015 and 2023. That administration established political control over key judicial institutions by stacking higher courts with friendly judges and punishing its critics with disciplinary action or assignments to far-away locations.

Current Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government came to power more than two years ago with ambitions to roll back the changes, but efforts to undo them have been blocked by two successive presidents aligned with the national right.

In October, prosecutors requested the lifting of Ziobro's parliamentary immunity to press charges against him. They allege among other things that Ziobro misused a fund for victims of violence, including for the purchase of Israeli Pegasus surveillance software.

Tusk’s party says Law and Justice used Pegasus to spy illegally on political opponents while in power. Ziobro says he acted lawfully.

Hungary, led by nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, has hosted several politicians close to Law and Justice while Polish authorities were seeking them.

In a lengthy post on X Monday, Ziobro wrote that he had “decided to accept the asylum granted to me by the government of Hungary due to the political persecution in Poland.”

“I have decided to remain abroad until genuine guarantees of the rule of law are restored in Poland,” he said. “I believe that instead of acquiescing to being silenced and subjected to a torrent of lies — which I would have no opportunity to refute — I can do more by fighting the mounting lawlessness in Poland.”

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in Budapest on Monday that Hungarian authorities have granted asylum to “several” individuals who would face political persecution in Poland, according to his ministry. He declined to specify their names.

In an English-language post on X, Tusk wrote that “the former Minister of Justice(!), Mr. Ziobro, who was the mastermind of the political corruption system, has asked the government of Victor Orbán for political asylum.”

“A logical choice,” he added.

FILE - The leader of the Polish junior coalition partners Zbigniew Ziobro, speaks to reporters alongside in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski, file)