For the fourth time in their last seven games, the New York Mets scored two runs or fewer as they lost to the Atlanta Braves 3-1 on Saturday afternoon. It’s the 17th time this season they’ve scored one run. Against Martín Pérez and Atlanta’s bullpen, the Mets offense mustered up just six hits, and the lone run was an RBI single from Mark Vientos, who broke an 0-for-17 stretch. Sean Manaea got the start and gave the Mets six innings of solid work to help a depleted bullpen. The Mets’ offense had a chance in the bottom of the ninth inning, but the eleventh double play of the season by Francisco Alvarez ended the game. The Mets are now 31-39 on the season.

Jun 13, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets first baseman Mark Vientos (27) reacts after striking out against the Atlanta Braves during the ninth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Offense Sputters Again & Wastes 9th-Inning Chance

Scoring two runs or fewer has been the theme of the Mets’ offense and season to this point. It happened again on Saturday against the Braves’ left-hander. The Mets tried to counter with a righty-heavy lineup by subbing left-handed hitters Jared Young, Brett Baty, and A.J. Ewing for Eric Wagaman, Videl Bruján, and Vientos. That didn’t help matters. The Mets offense notched four hits against Pérez, and the Mets finally got something going in the sixth inning after Bo Bichette doubled with one out. The Braves relieved Pérez for Dylan Lee to face Juan Soto with the Mets down 2-0. Soto popped out on the first pitch he saw, but Vientos drove in Bichette with an RBI single to left field. Lee would strike out Marcus Semien to end the inning.

The Braves bullpen, however, would halt the Mets, and New York wouldn’t show any rally until the ninth inning. Against closer Raisel Iglesias, Soto hit what looked like a leadoff home run, but Mike Yastrzemski challenged it for fan interference. The umpires overturned the play because it did not go over the wall. Soto instead went to second base for a double. Vientos would strike out swinging. Semien worked a walk with one out to bring Alvarez up as the winning run to the plate. On the second pitch of the at-bat, Alvarez grounded a sinker back to Iglesias for the double play to end the ballgame. The Mets’ offense went 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position on the day.

Manaea With Another Solid Outing

On the positive side, Manaea continues to pitch very well. On a start where the Mets needed length from Manaea after Nolan McLean only went four innings and struggled again on Friday night, Manaea went six innings and struck out six and allowed two earned runs. Both runs were scored by Eli White, who hit an RBI triple and a home run off Manaea. Part of a three-hit day for White. Still, Manaea saved up the bullpen after it was used for the rest of the game on Friday. It was the first time all season Manaea went six innings, and the first time since Game 3 of the 2024 NLDS that he reached that mark.

Pulchritudinous Defense

While Carson Benge had a hitless day at the plate, he shined playing center field on Saturday, and he did it in back-to-back innings. In the sixth, Ozzie Albies drove a ball to left-center, and Benge made a leaping catch to rob him of a double. Then, in the seventh, Benge was able to recover on a fly ball hit by Austin Riley to make a diving catch. 

Player of the Game: Sean Manaea

While Bo Bichette had a two-hit day and continues to take positive steps, Manaea’s six-inning, six-strikeout performance helped the Mets’ bullpen and kept them in the game.

On Deck

In the series finale on Sunday, the Mets will send Freddy Peralta to the mound against Bryce Elder. The game will be telecast locally on WPIX and broadcast on WHSQ 880AM at 1:40 pm EDT.