Hoskins, Mets Tensions Flare Again in 7-6 Loss To Brewers

One day after the New York Mets put on one of their worst Opening Day performances in club history, the team looked to bounce back on Saturday afternoon against the Milwaukee Brewers. Luis Severino took the mound to make his regular-season and Citi Field debut. Tensions seemed to be high after Friday’s altercation between Jeff McNeil and Brewers first baseman Rhys Hoskins. Some wondered if the situation would escalate, especially with Hoskins’ past with the Mets dating back to 2019. Some also wondered if yesterday was a sign of things to come for the 2024 season. The Mets would have to wait another day for their first win as they dropped this one to Milwaukee 7-6 with more added tension to the Hoskins situation. Hoskins also had himself a big day.

An Ineffective Severino

Severino would not carry over his strong spring training. His location was off and left pitches right over the middle of the plate. He went five innings, but he was worse than José Quintana, who didn’t finish five innings on Friday. Severino gave up 12 hits and 6 runs. In the first inning, William Contreras made it to first after Zack Short misplayed a grounder and Christian Yelich blooped a single. It set up an RBI double from Willy Adames. Then, Hoskins stepped up and, with no message being sent by the Mets during the at-bat, roped a double down the left-field line to give the Brewers a 3-0 lead.

In the Top of the 3rd, after another Adames hit, Hoskins cracked a two-run home run to make it 5-1 Milwaukee. Severino balked in a run (which was Hoskins) in the top of the 5th inning. It was a rough debut for Severino. Combined, Quintana and Severino allowed 18 hits and eight runs. 

Hoskins Dominates And More Tempers Flare

Hoskins had himself a memorable day, to say the least, and becomes another player in Mets lore whom the fans won’t be quite fond of. He had four RBI and it was looking like the Mets might not retaliate at all. Then in the top of the 7th inning, with the Brewers up 6-2 and a man on second, reliever Yohan Ramírez threw right up at Hoskins’ head.

After the umpires converged, Ramírez was ejected from the game. Hoskins would walk in that at-bat after Jorge López was brought in. The conversation now becomes whether the Mets waited too long to retaliate, and why did it take so long.

SNY commentator and former Mets pitcher Ron Darling offered his perspective.

 “The message is about two hours late,” Darling stated. 

Comeback Attempt Thwarted 

The Mets, who trailed 7-2 after seven innings, almost completed a comeback attempt against the Brewers on Saturday. Brett Baty started the climb for the Mets, clubbing his first homer of the season against lefty Hoby Milner to bring the score to 7-5 in the bottom of the eighth.

Pete Alonso followed Baty, clubbing his first homer of the season in the top of the ninth, to get the Mets within one run. However, the Mets couldn’t complete the comeback, as Abner Uribe struck out DJ Stewart and Startling Marte to secure a Brewers 7-6 victory.

Player Of The Game: Francisco Álvarez

The Mets slugging catcher had a good day. Francisco Álvarez belted his first home run of the season in the bottom of the 2nd inning to cut the Brewers lead to 3-1. In the bottom of the 3rd inning, Álvarez drove in another run with a single up the middle and he added another base hit later in the game to the opposite field. 

Notes

On Opening Day, the Mets offense garnered one hit, a Marte home run. On this day, New York’s offense gathered up 12 hits and scored 6 runs. Led by a pair of home runs by Álvarez, a three-run pinch-hit home run from Baty (who sat today against left-handed Brewers starter DL Hall), and Alonso. However, they also left eight on base. 

On Deck

The Mets look to salvage an eventful and ugly opening series against Milwaukee on Sunday as they send Tylor Megill to the mound. The Brewers will start Colin Rea. The game will be televised on SNY at 1:40 p.m. ET.