The New York Mets once again took on the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. After losing the first five games of the season series, the Mets were looking to get some type of momentum going. Unfortunately, for the Mets, whenever Max Scherzer is on the mound for the opposition, creating momentum is a tall task. Turns out, the Mets were able to get their chances but left a staggering nine stranded on base. As a result, the Mets lost their third straight game this time by a 4-3 score. 

Surprisingly, New York threatened first, which has rarely happened over the past couple weeks. Brandon Nimmo lead off the game with a line drive, 104.2 MPH bullet that beat center fielder Cody Bellinger to the right-center field wall. As has been the case for much of the season, the Mets were unable to capitalize with runners in scoring position and Scherzer was able to leave Nimmo stranded at second base. 

Trea Turner hit a leadoff home run in the top of the first that barely got out over the left field wall. If Dominic Smith got back on it quicker, he may have had a chance to jump up and snag it at the wall. Albert Pujols then hit a 106.6 MPH home run of his own, which is the 677th of his legendary career. Just like that, the Mets trailed 2-0 after one inning. That was certainly not how Mets’ starting pitcher Rich Hill envisioned his homecoming to begin.

The Mets would go on to leave a man stranded on second in each the second, third, and fourth innings. In the bottom of the fourth, the Dodgers broke through once again via the home run ball. Chris Taylor continued his all-star season by hitting a two-out, solo shot over the 390-foot center field wall.

Nimmo continued his stellar day in the fifth inning as he responded to Taylor’s two-out home run with a two-out long ball of his own. He slugged a 107.5 MPH screamer off the right field foul pole for the Mets’ first run of the game. That started what looked to be a two-out rally.

Jeff McNeil followed up the home run with a much-needed hit of his own, it being a double. Pete Alonso then got hit with a pitch which brought Michael Conforto to the plate as the go-ahead run. Conforto, as has been a theme recently, put together a nice at-bat and drew an ever-so-rare Mets’ walk.

Once again, J.D. Davis came up to the plate in a bases loaded situation with the Mets trailing, just like last night. He, also like last night, struck out. He swung through a fastball right down the center of the plate. Davis has now struck out in all six of his loaded bases at-bats this season. This is just a mind-boggling statistic. Through five innings of baseball, the Mets stranded seven runners on base.

Although only scoring one run, the Mets chased Scherzer from the game after the fifth inning. They forced him to throw 103 pitches, but he ended up only allowing one run on five hits while striking out eight. Nonetheless, the Mets were able to break into a decently worked Dodgers’ bullpen to start the sixth inning.

Despite the three home runs, Hill pitched a decent game in his return to Los Angeles. He went the deepest he has into a contest as a Met. In total, he pitched five innings and allowed three runs on six hits. Miguel Castro who has been pitching very well, relieved Hill and found himself in instant trouble.

After a lead-off broken-bat bloop hit, and two walked batters, the bases were loaded for Los Angeles. Castro then walked a third batter in a row, which resulted in the Dodgers extending their lead to 4-1. He left the game without recording an out. Jeurys Familia relieved Castro and did what he has come accustomed to doing over his career. He got out of a mess that seemed impossible to do without giving up a run. Terrific work by the veteran.

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The one consistent hitter for the Mets this year has been Alonso. In the top of the seventh he hit another home run, a two-run shot, that just got out over the right field wall. This brought the Mets right back in the ball game, making it 4-3. The most impressive aspect of Alonso’s 28th of the season, it was off reliever Blake Treinen, who has been elite this season.

Aaron Loup and Seth Lugo each pitched very strong scoreless innings and the Mets still trailed by one to begin the ninth. Despite getting the tying run aboard courtesy of a lead-off hit by pitch and to second base with one out, the Mets were unable to capitalize once again and fell 4-3.

Nimmo (3 for 5, HR) and Alonso (HR, 2 RBIs) led the Mets’ offensively, and outside Castro the bullpen was strong once again. However, the Mets left nine men on base and went zero for eight with runners in scoring position (RISP). The team is now nine for 72 with RISP over their last nine games.

The Mets and Dodgers will end their four-game series tomorrow evening at 4:10 PM ET. This will also be the last game, thankfully for the Mets, between these two teams this season.  The expected pitching matchup for the finale tomorrow: Marcus Stroman (2.84 ERA) versus David Price (3.62 ERA).