Mets’ Pitching Falters, Comeback Falls Short As Blue Jays Complete Sweep

The New York Mets (30-30) looked to avoid being swept by the Toronto Blue Jays and finish the homestand on a positive note before heading down to Atlanta for an important divisional series. New York sent Kodai Senga to the mound on four days rest after his best start of his major league career against the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday night. However, at Citi Field on Sunday afternoon, the Mets did not get the outcome they wanted.

Senga was matched up against Yusei Kikuchi had won the previous two starts for the Jays, but has found difficulty going past five innings of work. The Mets did knock him out after five, but could not take advantage offensively and dropped a series finale in the latter part of the game, 6-4.

Senga’s start to the afternoon was not any better than Leone’s, unfortunately. He did not make it out of the third inning, where Stephen Nogosek picked up after him, finishing the top of the third and pitching towards the end of the sixth.

Senga’s second inning was where things began to collapse for him. He walked Matt Chapman and a single by Daulton Varsho were all then plated home by a Whit Merrifield double to give the Jays a 2-0 lead.

Senga would get the boot in the top of the third inning. Guerrero Jr. hit a 406-foot solo shot to put the game at 3-0, Jays, and a throwing error by  Francisco Álvarez plated another. Senga wasn’t able to finish the third after throwing 68 pitches. Senga went 2 2/3 innings, giving up four hits, five walks, and striking out three batters.

Nogosek was relatively untouched for his three innings of work. In Nogosek’s bounce back outing, he gave up one hit and one walk while striking out four to drop his season ERA to 5.55.

Tommy Pham kick started the Mets’ offense with a pair of solo shots of his own in the bottom of the third and fifth innings to inch New York closer, 4-2.

The Mets tied the game up at four thanks to another pair of solo blasts by Alonso and Starling Marte. Alonso’s 360-foot home run not only increased his major-league leading total to 21 but was also the 72nd he has hit at Citi Field. Those 72 long balls at home cements him as the all-time leader in home runs hit at Citi Field.

Dominic Leone would fumble the fresh start for the Mets the inning after. The top of the seventh began with a Guerrero Jr. single followed by a Brandon Belt two-run homer to straightaway center field. The Jays would be up 6-4 and that would end the scoring for both teams.

Player of the Game: Tommy Pham

Tommy Pham batted leadoff for the Mets on Sunday in the spot that would normally be for Brandon Nimmo, who had the day off. Pham’s two hits in his four plate appearances were both solo home runs that gained the Mets some ground from a 4-0 deficit.

On Deck:

The Mets (30-30) will have the day off on Monday before heading down to Atlanta for the first time this season. Carlos Carrasco, who has been impressive since his return from the injured list, is projected to take on rookie Bryce Elder for the Braves. The game will start at 7:20 pm ET and will also air on TBS.