Mets’ Lose 2-1 to Blue Jays on Hall of Fame Day

Saturday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays was a special day for the organization, as Howard Johnson, Al Leiter, Gary Cohen, Howie Rose and Jay Horowitz were inducted into the New York Mets’ Hall of Fame prior to first pitch. After the pregame festivities concluded, much of the focus turned to the second game of the series. The Blue Jays sent José Berríos to the mound, while the Mets went with Tylor Megill.

George Springer began the game with a single to shallow left field, dropping in front of Mark Canha. Bo Bichette did not waste any time against Megill, hitting a first-pitch fastball to right field for a single. All of sudden, the Blue Jays had runners on first and second with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. coming to the plate. The two-time All-Star hit the first pitch he saw back towards the mound, giving the Mets pitcher an opportunity to turn two. Megill bounced his throw to second, but Jeff McNeil was able to pick it out of the dirt for the force out. Guerrero stole second base and Brandon Belt walked, loading the bases with one out. Megill was able to stay under control against Matt Chapman and Whit Merrifield, keeping the Blue Jays off the board.

Brandon Nimmo opened the bottom half of the first with a single to right field. After Francisco Lindor struck out, McNeil drew a walk, putting a runner in scoring position for Pete Alonso. The Mets first baseman failed to come through, flying out to Springer in right. Berríos finished the inning off with a strikeout of Brett Baty, fooling him on slurve down and in.

Megill allowed the first batter to reach in the second, walking Daulton Varsho in an eight-pitch at bat. The right-hander made up for that by picking off the Blue Jays outfielder, with McNeil tagging him out on the back of the leg. Alejandro Kirk would draw a walk, but that would be all, as Megill would strike out Kevin Kiermaier and Springer.

The Mets got the scoring started with back-to-back hits in the bottom of the second. Starling Marte reached on an infield single on the left side. Two pitches later, Daniel Vogelbach lined a double into the right-center gap, scoring Marte all the way from first. That would be all the Mets would give in the frame, taking an early 1-0 lead going into the third.

Neither team threatened in the third, as the only batter to reach base for either team was Guerrero. Megill walked him on six pitches, his fourth walk of the game. The Blue Jays were able to force long at-bats against him but failed to capitalize against the 27-year-old.

Megill and Berríos made quick work in the fourth, as Kirk was the only player to get on base, hitting a line drive single to right field. It was more of the same in the fifth, as both teams were unable to cash in with runners on base. Mark Canha walked in the bottom half of the inning and made it to second after a sacrifice bunt from Tomás Nido. The Mets did not extend their lead, as Nimmo and Lindor could not get a hit against the Blue Jays starter.

Toronto finally got on the board in the top of the sixth, leading the inning off with a double from Brandon Belt. Chapman drew a walk before Megill got Merrifield to fly out. Buck Showalter went to Brooks Raley to face off against Varsho in a lefty-lefty matchup. The reliever got him to fly out to right field, putting the Mets within one out of getting through the inning. Kirk would deny them of that, hitting a sharp ball to shortstop, but Lindor was only able to deflect the ball. Belt rounded third as the ball trickled into the outfield, and the throw to the plate was not in time, as the first baseman got in safely. Just like that, the Blue Jays tied it at 1-1.

The Mets attempted to respond right away, as McNeil hit a single up the middle and Baty walked against Berríos. Once again, New York had an opportunity to produce with runners in scoring position, but failed to do so. Marte grounded out to shortstop and Vogelbach flew out to right field, ending the scoring chance.

Adam Ottavino came out of the bullpen for the seventh, replacing Raley. The right-hander made quick work of the top three hitters in the Blue Jays lineup, pitching a scoreless frame. Blue Jays manager John Schneider replaced Berríos in the bottom half, going to Trevor Richards. Nimmo was able to get on base with a single, but that would be all, as Lindor’s fly ball to center field was caught by Kiermaier in front of the warning track.

The Mets stuck with Ottavino to begin the eighth, but Belt greeted him with a double, his second of the game. The Blue Jays replaced him with Cavan Biggio, putting more speed on second base. Chapman grounded out to the right side, moving the runner over to third base. With one out in the inning, Lindor what looked to be a game-saving play at the time. Merrifield hit a ground ball to the shortstop, who was playing a few steps in on the grass. Lindor threw the ball home, and Nido tagged Biggio out. Showalter replaced Ottavino with David Robertson, who was able to strike out Kirk to end the inning.

Alonso created a scoring chance for the Mets by himself, reaching base in the bottom of the inning on a throwing error from Chapman. The 28-year-old stole second, but once again, New York did not come through with a runner in scoring position. Nate Pearson got Baty and Marte to strike out, keeping the game tied at 1-1 going into the ninth.

The Blue Jays took a 2-1 lead on an RBI double from Guerrero, scoring Springer from second base. Moments before that, Schneider was ejected for arguing a strike call against the slugger. Regardless, the Mets went to the bottom of the ninth, needing a run against Erik Swanson to tie the game. Canha singled past Merrifield at the second, giving New York some life with one out. Francisco Álvarez pinched hit for Nido, but hit a shallow fly ball to center field on a 3-2 pitch. Nimmo struck out on three pitches as the Mets fell 3-2.

Highlight of the Day

The 2023 Hall of Fame class for the New York Mets included many fan favorites, including play-by-play announcer Gary Cohen and radio broadcaster Howie Rose. Fans entered the stadium early, sitting in their seats as they listened to all five inductees. Each of them spoke about the Mets organization and the impact it has had on their lives.

On Deck

The Mets will finish off their series with the Blue Jays on Sunday at 1:40 p.m. ET. Kodai Senga will make his first start of the season on four days’ rest, as the team looks the gauge where the right-hander is at. Toronto will send Yusei Kikuchi to the mound, who has been hurt by the home run ball (15 home runs allowed) this season. The Mets will look to salvage the final game of the series.