It may be Independence Day around the United States for the country’s 25oth birthday, but for the New York Mets, it was Groundhog Day again.
In a 14-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves, the team’s 12th in their last 14 games and their third in a row, the Mets committed another bad defensive mistake and showed a continued lack of situational hitting—more of the same since the middle of last year. Sean Manaea pitched five innings, and while he didn’t have his best stuff, he was doomed by an error by Tyrone Taylor. New York went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left eleven runners on base.
They are now 36-53 on the season. 17 games under .500. For the Mets, this franchise is going to need a serious reevaluation when this season mercifully comes to an end.
May 22, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; New York Mets pitcher Sean Manaea (59) returns to the dugout against the Miami Marlins during the second inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Tyrone Taylor Drop Allows Three Runs to Score
Manaea had allowed two runs to score through the first 2 2/3 innings as Eli White homered off him in the second inning, and Michael Harris notched an RBI single in the third inning. It was 2-0 Atlanta, but with two outs in the third, White popped up a ball with the bases loaded that should’ve been the last out. But this Mets team, or really the team for the last year and a half, doesn’t play basic baseball. Nothing is ever easy. Taylor, one of the Mets’ better defenders, dropped the ball, and it allowed all three runs to score.
It wasn’t ruled an error, but it probably should’ve been. Another routine play that should’ve been made, that wasn’t. It says a lot when veterans are making mistakes. That’s when you know things are bad. When things trickle down, and it doesn’t stop. Instead of Manaea getting out of the inning still down 2-0, the Braves were up by five after three innings. Manaea allowed another home run, this time to Mauricio Dubón in the bottom of the fourth inning to make it 6-0 Atlanta. Manaea finished his night with five innings under his belt, allowing six hits, six runs, one walk, and four strikeouts, but he was let down by the Taylor mistake.
Mets Go 1-for-9 With RISP.
With Chris Sale on the mound for the Braves, it was always going to be tough sledding to score runs. The Mets made another switch at leadoff with Francisco Lindor back in that spot after AJ Ewing was in it on Friday night. Ewing sat on the bench on Saturday night. New York struggled to drive in runs and again lacked that situational clutch hitting that has scarred them for over a year. The Mets tried to respond in the top of the fourth, down by five, with Lindor and Juan Soto on first and second base. However, Bo Bichette, Mark Vientos, and Eric Wagaman failed to drive them in.
After Taylor got the Mets on the board with a home run in the fifth, Brett Baty and Lindor got on base, but with two-outs, Soto popped out to Ozzie Albies. The closest the Mets came to tying the game was in the sixth inning. Mark Vientos hit a two-run home run to make it 6-3. That was followed by a Wagaman single and Francisco Alvarez reaching base on a hit-by-pitch. It was first and second, nobody out, with the tying runs coming to the plate. Neither reached base. Neither came close. Carson Benge and Taylor went down on three pitches each to Sale. Brett Baty would come up next and strikeout swinging on a slider. The Mets were sent down in order on strikeouts with the tying run at the plate each time. Simply not good enough. The Braves would then pull away.
Juan Soto Makes The All-Star Team
Before the game, Soto was announced as the Mets’ lone All-Star and will start in the outfield. It is the first time Soto will don the blue and orange at the All-Star Game, and the fifth of his career. This came one year after he was snubbed of an All-Star nod despite finishing the year top-3 in MVP voting. Entering Saturday’s game, Soto was batting .297, with a 168 OPS+ and a .971 OPS. He had 18 home runs, 41 RBIs, and 73 hits on the season at the time of the All-Star Game announcement. He also said he would think about participating in the home run derby.
Player of the Game: Mark Vientos
Mark Vientos snapped his latest hitless skid with two hits on the day. Including a two-run home run that got the Mets as close as they would get.
On Deck:
The Mets will look to avoid a sweep in Atlanta. Nolan McLean will get the ball for the Mets against Martin Pérez and the Braves. The game can be watched nationally on NBC and streamed on Peacock, while being broadcast locally on WHSQ 880AM.
