Tong pitches 5 innings in debut, Mets set team record for runs at home in 19-9 romp over Marlins

NEW YORK (AP) — Jonah Tong allowed one earned run in five innings in his major league debut and the New York Mets hit six homers and set a franchise record for runs in a home game in a 19-9 victory over the Miami Marlins on Friday night.

Tong (1-0) received a standing ovation from the sellout crowd of 42,112 when he took the mound for a six-pitch first inning. The 22-year-old Canadian right-hander had a 5-0 lead when he returned for the second, and the Mets made it 12-0 in the bottom of the inning.

With an over-the-top delivery that has drawn comparisons to Tim Lincecum, Tong struck out six without a walk. He threw 63 of 97 pitches for strikes.

In the bottom of the first against Eury Pérez (6-4), Juan Soto hit a two-run homer and Brandon Nimmo had a three-run shot before an out was recorded.

Pete Alonso had a two-run homer in the second. Nimmo added a solo shot in the sixth before Mark Vientos went deep and Luis Torrens slugged a three-run shot in a six-run eighth off infielder Javier Sanjoja.

Tong allowed all four runs in the fifth following fielding errors by Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso. Lindor dropped a throw from second baseman Brett Baty on a force attempt and Alonso misplayed a grounder by Jacob Marsee.

The Mets won for the ninth time in 13 games.

Otto Lopez homered and had a two-run single for the Marlins.

After allowing Lopez’s hit, Tong ended his outing by getting a called third strike on a 95 mph fastball against Liam Hicks.

The Mets scored 19 runs for the second time this season and seventh time in team history.

Miami RHP Edward Cabrera (7-7, 3.32 ERA) faces LHP David Peterson (8-5, 3.18) on Saturday.

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New York Mets' Pete Alonso, left, and Mark Vientos, right, react after Alonso hit a two-run home run which also scored Juan Soto during the second inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

New York Mets' Brandon Nimmo, left, runs the bases after hitting a three-run home run which also scored Pete Alonso and Mark Vientos during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

New York Mets' Juan Soto hits a two-run home run, which also scored Francisco Lindor, during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

New York Mets pitcher Jonah Tong throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

New York Mets pitcher Jonah Tong reacts after striking out Miami Marlins' Liam Hicks during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Voting began Thursday in Uganda’s presidential election despite a days-long internet shutdown that has been criticized as an anti-democratic gesture in a country where the president has held office since 1986.

Crowds gathered and long lines formed in some areas as polling station openings were delayed and voting materials were seen being delivered after the scheduled 7 a.m. opening time.

President Yoweri Museveni, 81, faces seven other candidates, including Robert Kyagulanyi, a musician-turned-politician best known as Bobi Wine, who is calling for political change.

The East African country of roughly 45 million people has 21.6 million registered voters.

Uganda opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, known as Bobi Wine, right, greets election observers, including former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, at his home in Magere village on the outskirts of Kampala, Uganda, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Hajarah Nalwadda)

Billboards of Uganda President and National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential candidate Yoweri Museveni are seen in Kampala, Uganda, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Samson Otieno)

Electoral workers deliver ballot boxes to a polling station during presidential election in Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

Voters are reflected in a police officer's sunglasses as they wait in line after voting failed to start on time due to system failures during presidential election in Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

Voters wait to cast their ballots during the presidential election in Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)