The Mets (65-78) dropped the first of a three-game series against the Diamondbacks (76-69)  by a score of 4-3 on Monday night at Citi Field. José Quintana allowed just two runs, and the offense gave little run support to the starter. New York notched six hits, including a home run from Jeff McNeil. Drew Smith (4-6) took the loss after giving up the game-winning double in the ninth.

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(Box Score)

Quintana got the start for New York and allowed just two runs on five hits. He tossed 90 pitches over five innings in the loss. His ERA on the season is 3.05.

Arizona got in front first, scoring the game’s first two runs in the third inning. Tommy Pham knocked a double off the Mets’ starter, and with one out, Quintana then walked Lourdes Guriel Jr. and gave up a base hit to Evan Longoria to give up a run, with the second coming on a sacrifice fly.

New York struck back in the home half of the inning to take a 3-2 lead.  Led by McNeil’s one-out solo homer, New York scored three runs in the inning with a Ronny Mauricio two-RBI double that drove in Pete Alonso and DJ Stewart, who both walked.

Quintana was lifted for Sean Reid-Foley in the sixth inning, who notched three strikeouts and one walk.

Brooks Raley took over in the seventh and tossed a scoreless frame. Trevor Gott pitched the eighth and gave up a game-tying solo home run to Pham, his eighth home run since being traded to Arizona.

Drew Smith pitched the ninth and gave Arizona a 4-3 lead after allowing a one-out single to Alek Thomas, and a double to Ketel Marte to score the outfielder.

New York put runners on second and third in the top of the ninth, but former Met Paul Sewald retired Brandon Nimmo to secure a win for the Diamondbacks. The Mets are now a season-worst 13 games under .500.

McNeil hit a solo home run in the third inning for the first Mets run. He has hit five in the second half of the season after hitting only three in the first half.

Player of the Game

Ronny Mauricio takes Monday’s honor after driving in two of the Mets’ three runs against the Diamondbacks. He is slashing .313/.353/.375/.728 in nine games this season in the majors.

On Deck

José Butto takes the mound on Tuesday for New York. In his last start against the Nationals, he threw six and 1/3 innings and allowed two runs on six hits, with one walk and six strikeouts.

Ryne Nelson gets the start for the Diamondbacks. In his last time out against the Cubs, he tossed five and 2/3 innings and allowed one run on two hits with two walks and three strikeouts.

First pitch for Tuesday night’s game is set for 7:10 p.m. ET. The game will be available to watch on SNY and can be listened to on WCBS 880.