The New York Mets sent the Kansas City Royals a stern message on Friday night as brilliant pitching and a re-awakened offense propelled the Mets to a rout of the Royals in the third game of the World Series, 9-3. With the win, New York only trails Kansas City two games to one in the best of seven series. The Mets really had to win last night and they did in a convincing fashion.

Young 23 year old Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard began the game with a serious message. Royals lead off hitter, Alcides Escobar, is a notorious first pitch hitter and can leap on a fastball, reports The New York Times. He proved that with a first pitch lead off inside the park home run to start Game One. Last night, however, Syndergaard was not going to give Escobar that opportunity.

Syndergaard sent the first pitch of the game high and tight as the 98 MPH blazing fastball sailed just high of Escobar’s head knocking him to the dirt. Syndergaard had met with his catcher prior to the start of the game and informed him of his intention to send the Kansas City Royals a message, and a little chin music, that the Mets were the National League champions and were not about to go quietly.

The Royals scratched and clawed for the first two innings but, after that, Syndergaard retired twelve in a row. The Mets offense finally woke up after a two game slumber and showed the home, celebrity packed, crowd of 44,781 at Citi Field what they were really all about. The Mets struck early and often and their speed on the base paths proved the undoing of the Royals. That and some truly Little League throws from the outfield by the Royals outfielders didn’t help either. At least twice the Royals could have cut a Mets run down at the plate if they had used the standard cutoff man defensive play. Instead, the Royals allowed their weak armed outfielders to try and throw home and they all bounced and rolled well before they got anywhere near home plate. It was embarrassing.

The World Series continues in New York for Game Four. The game starts at 8PM Eastern.