Another series and another series loss by the Mets. The San Francisco Giants came into Citi Field and won the first two of three games against New York. After the series, the Mets have lost seven of their last nine games, while winning the series finale prevented their longest losing streak of the season. Their record stands at 22-30. The .423 winning percentage puts the Mets on pace for a 69-93 record. While most observers did not expect them to contend for the World Series this season, that type of record would be nothing short of disappointing for the team with the highest payroll in the majors.
Even more worrisome than the losses themselves are the way the Mets lost them. The bullpen imploded in the first two games. It is hard to blame the bullpen too much, as per Krom’s Korner below, they have been taxed more than should be expected so far this year. The third game did end the series on a very positive note, with the Mets showing they are not giving up on the season yet. The walk-off hit by Omar Narvaez had the tone of a walk-off playoff victory, with the positive vibes shared between the team and the fans.
Owner Steve Cohen, after the rough start to the series, is getting more frustrated with the losses and becoming more vocal about it.
Game Recaps
Game 1: Giants 8, Mets 7
With this loss, the Mets are off to their worst start to a season through 50 games since 2013. History was made, as the Giants became the first team since the St. Louis Cardinals in 1932 to win three straight road games after trailing by at least four runs. A go-ahead grand slam in the eight inning was the decisive shot for San Francisco.
The Mets lineup produced seven runs, despite striking out 12 times, and were led by a two hit, two RBI performance by Pete Alonso. Alonso also delivered his 12th home run of the season to go along with 26 RBI’s. Francisco Lindor also had two hits and raised his average to .208, despite striking out twice. Also homering for the Mets were J.D. Martinez (3rd of the year, also struck out three times) and Mark Vientos (3rd of the season). The lineup was 3 for 11 with Runners in Scoring Position as Alonso, Lindor, and Jeff McNeil were all 1 for 1.
In the running for this season’s “Toughest Luck” Award, Christian Scott took the mound for the Mets looking for his first win of the season and of his major league career. He was strong through six innings, giving up two runs on two hits while striking out four and only walking one. His 94-pitch outing lowered his ERA to 3.97. As manager Carlos Mendoza tried to get former Closer / Closer again Edwin Díaz a non-save outing, Diaz took the hill in the seventh inning. He struck out two while giving up one hit in his scoreless inning of work. In the eighth inning, the game imploded. Early season bullpen superstar Reed Garrett took his second loss of the year, surrendering five runs in the one inning, with the key hit being a grand slam by Patrick Bailey, taking his record on the season to 5-2 with a 2.67 ERA. Jorge Lopez pitched the ninth, giving up a solo home run to Mike Yastrzemski in what would be a critical run with the Mets mounting a mini-rally in the ninth.
The Giants offense was paced by Bailey, who had two hits on the day including his grand slam, Yastrzemski who had two hits including his solo home run, and Jorge Soler who also had a solo homer. Shortstop Marco Luciano delivered three hits in his four at-bats.
Kyle Harrison got the start for San Francisco and went five innings, giving up five runs (four earned) on six hits while striking out six and walking two. The Giants bullpen allowed two runs in their four innings of work. Nick Avila picked up the win with hard-throwing Camilo Doval earning his ninth save.
Game 2: Giants 7, Mets 2 (10 innings)
With a familiar face in a familiar place in the ninth inning, the Mets faced the same fate as their prior four games, falling to the Giants. Edwin Díaz blew his third straight save opportunity (and fourth lead) in a row before the wheels fell off in the tenth inning. The Giants won their eighth game of their last nine, including the last four in a row. Also, the curse of the City Connect jerseys continue….
Offensively, the Mets were not able to do much, producing only two runs on four hits. Both runs came on solo home runs, one by Starling Marte (his sixth of the season) and the other by Brett Baty (his fourth). Brandon Nimmo went 1 for 5 with four strikeouts and J.D. Martinez struck out three times on his way to an 0 for 4. Overall the Mets struck out an alarming 14 times in 35 at-bats.
The bullpen implosion for the Mets ruined a spectacular start from current pseudo-Ace Luis Severino as he went seven strong innings allowing only one run on two hits while striking out six and walking three. An ideal start for the Mets would have someone like Severino going seven innings as he did, followed by Adam Ottavino holding the lead in the eighth and Edwin Díaz shutting the door in the ninth for the save. In this one, Ottavino held up his end of the bargain but Diaz continued his struggles as the closer. While looking more comfortable than previous blown saves, the one run Diaz gave up was enough to force extra innings. In the tenth, Sean Reid-Foley was not helped by an error charged to Pete Alonso and between Reid-Foley and Josh Walker, the Mets allowed five runs though none were earned.
For the Giants, Game 1 hero Patrick Bailey drove in two runs, and Mike Yastrzemski had three RBI’s of his own. On the mound, Jordan Hicks continued his strong start the season by allowing only one run on two hits in five innings while striking out eight and walking two. His season ERA stands at 2.33. Despite holding a five-run lead in the tenth, closer Camilo Doval pitched the bottom of frame to ensure the win (which takes him out of the running to pitch in Game 3, which does prove to be important).
Game 3: Mets 4, Giants 3
A walk-off victory is a great way to end a series with a positive feeling, despite losing leads in the first two games. Keeping the series trend, there was a comeback in this game, though this time the Mets provided the heroics. A 3-1 deficit in the bottom of the ninth became a 4-3 victory.
For the Mets, Harrison Bader held the torch for the offense (and defense, as he took a home run away by bringing one back from over the fence in Center Field). He went 2 for 4 on the day, with his more critical hit being a two-run RBI double in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game at 3. That set up the theatrics for Omar Narvaez following an intentional walk to Brett Baty. Facing Tyler Rogers who was filling in closer Camilo Doval after Doval pitched in the first two games of the series, Narvaez delivered with a game-winning single and got to enjoy a Gatorade bat on a hot day at Citi Field.
The Mets starter was Sean Manaea, who against his former team went five innings and threw a lot of pitches. He finished the day giving up two runs on five hits while striking out six and walking one. His season ERA stands at a solid 3.16. Adrian Houser, who has gone back and forth between the rotation and the bullpen, went the final four innings and picked up the win. He was helped by some highlight reel defense by Baty.
For the Giants, Brett Wisely went two 2 for 3 with an RBI. San Francisco’s other run was driven in by Heliot Ramos. Logan Webb contributed a solid start, giving up one run (none earned) on only three hits in seven innings while striking out eight and walking one.
Krom’s Korner
A team should be all about working together. When one part of the team struggles, the diversification of skill sets requires some other part of the team to step up. Too many times this year, when the Mets hitters struggled, the pitching did not come through, and when the pitching struggled the offense did not provide enough. The sliver lining through the early part of the season had been the bullpen; however, the relievers are now showing signs of wear after being used a lot so far.
Through the Giants series, in the first 52 games of the season, Mets starters went five innings or less in 26 of those games. That 50% ratio means a lot of innings for the relievers.
Even early season sensation Reed Garrett has shown he is not perfect, as evidenced by giving up a grand slam and five runs in the first game of the series.
As mentioned above, the ideal scenario for Mets pitching has the starter going seven strong innings, followed by someone like Adam Ottavino going the eighth inning and closer Edwin Díaz closing the door in the ninth. That has not happened nearly enough in 2024.
A prior Krom’s Korner talked about how Diaz’s issues are between his ears and not physical. He has now blown four save opportunities while only earning five saves. That needs to be straightened out for the Mets to have any hope of contending for the playoffs. The repercussions for the rest of the bullpen are evident when Diaz is not able to serve as the anchor. Manager Carlos Mendoza has said that Diaz is the closer again after a short hiatus.
Upcoming: Home Stand Continues Against the Dodgers
After the series against the Giants, the Mets welcome another West Coast team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, to Queens. The Dodgers are reeling, entering the series having lost their last five in a row including a sweep at the hands of the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati. Despite that they are still in first place in the NL West with a record of 33-22. The teams last faced off in LA in mid-April with the Mets winning two of three.
Game 1 of the series has Tylor Megill scheduled to start for the Mets. Megill is coming off his last start in Cleveland against the Guardians where he surrendered three runs (two earned) over five innings. He is 0-2 with a 3.00 ERA and will be looking for his first victory of the season.
Game 2’s scheduled starter is Jose Quintana. His last outing was decent against Cleveland, giving up three runs in six innings. Quintana’s season record is 1-4 with a 5.13 ERA.
Game 3 will see the season debut of lefty David Peterson who will take the hill for the Mets in the series finale. Peterson has looked good in his rehab assignments and will look to provide some needed insurance for a taxed pitching staff.
Written by: Jason Krom
Stats by espn.com
***Are you interested in sports betting? If so make sure to use our promo code below where you can get your deposit matched (up to $1000), use promo code Sportz***
***Have you tried Dubby?? Are you looking for a Pre-Workout??
Use our promo code : WeLikeSportz for 10% off!
WE LIKE SPORTZ SHOW 