The Mets lost to the Braves for the seventh time in eight games this season, but it wasn’t as if they didn’t have opportunities to make headway. The Mets had base runners in eight different innings, and multiple base runners six times. All told, the Mets went 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position and left a whopping 14 men on base.

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Brandon Nimmo drew a walk to lead off the bottom of the first for the Mets – the first of seven walks they worked against Charlie Morton. With two outs, Pete Alonso earned a free pass, but Daniel Vogelbach struck out on a curveball to end the frame. The Mets got back-to-back singles from Mark Vientos and Rafael Ortega in the second inning, but Danny Mendick grounded into a double play. After Jonathan Araúz walked, Nimmo flew out to left field to end the threat.

In the third, Jeff McNeil and Alonso worked walks with one out to give the Mets another scoring opportunity. However, Vogelbach came up small again, striking out on a change-up out of the zone, and Vientos popped out to shortstop Orlando Arcia.

After the Braves put up three runs in the top of the fourth, Ortega worked a lead-off walk and stole second base. Nimmo walked with two away, but Francisco Álvarez flew out to right field to waste another opportunity.

The Mets got just one base runner over the next two innings before mounting another threat in the seventh inning. With two away, McNeil singled and Alonso worked his third walk of the night. However, Vogelbach failed to cash in for the third time of the night, lining out to right field. In the eighth, Mendick singled with two outs, and Araúz earned the Mets’ ninth walk of the night. Unfortunately, D.J. Stewart grounded out to Matt Olson to bring the Mets to 13 men left on base. Álvarez scorched a double to lead off the ninth inning but was left stranded to end the game. According to OptaSTATS, the Mets became the first team in the modern era to collect at least seven hits and draw at least nine walks in a game without scoring a single run.

In 2022, the Mets were one of the best teams in baseball at hitting with runners in scoring position, batting .269. After Friday’s game, the Mets are hitting just .241 in those situations. The Mets are also hitting over 20 points worse with men on base than they did a season ago.