Contradicting the later stages of the game, the first five innings were a breeze as both Sean Manaea and Slade Cecconi cruised through five easy scoreless innings. Both kept relatively low pitch counts, especially Manaea, who was at just 57 through five frames.

But as Mets fans know, the sixth inning has not been kind to Mets starters this year. It was no different in this game, as the sixth inning was nothing short of a nightmare. Manaea faced eight batters and only retired two of them. Steven Kwan led off with a single to right field before Ángel Martínez was hit by a pitch while attempting to bunt. José Ramírez then flied out to right, putting runners on the corners with one out. That’s when things started to get out of hand.

A Manaea wild pitch nearly brought home Kwan from third, but Kwan opted to stay at the base while Martínez advanced to second. Manaea then surrendered three straight hits, two singles and a three-run homer off the bat of Gabriel Arias, to put the Guardians ahead 5-0 after entering the inning in a scoreless tie. Manaea then struck out Nolan Jones before allowing a single to Brayan Rocchio, ending Manaea’s night.

Through five innings, it appeared a near certainty that Manea would become the first Mets starter not named David Peterson to complete six innings in almost two months, but a blowup of epic proportions saw him exit the game just one out shy of that mark. In all, he allowed five runs over 5 2/3 innings, watching his ERA balloon from 2.08 to 3.52.

Cleveland’s starter Cecconi was equally as strong as Manaea through five innings. He didn’t allow a run, even working out of a runner-on-second, no-out scenario in the fifth. Like Manaea, though, Cecconi also faltered in the sixth, but not to the same extent and not entirely by his own doing.

Francisco Lindor reached base to lead off the inning on a strikeout and wild pitch before Juan Soto grounded a ball that got by the second baseman for an error. With runners on first and third and no outs, Pete Alonso socked a three-run homer to left-center field to get the Mets back within two. It was the 251st home run of Alonso’s career, putting him just one behind Darryl Strawberry‘s club record. The Mets couldn’t add on further, however, as the next three batters went down in order.

Tyler Rogers and Reed Garrett each pitched a relatively easy scoreless inning in the seventh and eighth to keep the Mets within striking distance. The Mets were unable to get anything going in the seventh but jumped all over Hunter Gaddis in the eighth.

Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, Pete Alonso, and Jeff McNeil started off the inning with four straight singles, scoring a run and loading up the bases with no outs. Mark Vientos hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game, and Cedric Mullins nearly gave the Mets the lead, but a great defensive play kept the game tied, and it stayed that way into the ninth.

Edwin Díaz faced immediate trouble in the top of the ninth as he allowed a leadoff single, a stolen base, and an advance to third on a throw that made it to center field. With the Guardians threatening to take the lead right back, Díaz—coming right off a National League Reliever of the Month award for July—induced a strikeout, a popup, and another strikeout to strand the runner at third and give the Mets a chance to walk it off in the bottom of the inning.

Francisco Alvarez started the bottom of the ninth with a single off Cade Smith, promptly being removed from the game so Tyrone Taylor could pinch-run for him. Brandon Nimmo struck out for the fourth consecutive plate appearance before Francisco Lindor ripped a line drive double into right field. Taylor was held up at third, though there’s a chance he could have made it home safely to win the game. Juan Soto was intentionally walked to load the bases, setting up Pete Alonso to put an end to one of the best games of his career. Alonso worked a 2-2 count but struck out on a high fastball before Jeff McNeil hit a soft liner to the shortstop to put a sudden end to the game-ending threat.

José Ramírez was intentionally walked in the top of the 10th to put runners on first and second with no outs and Ryan Helsley on the mound. Disaster ensued when David Fry dropped down a bunt and Brett Baty sailed the throw to second wide and into the outfield, scoring a run and putting runners on second and third with still nobody out. A sacrifice fly gave the Guardians a massive insurance run, putting them ahead 7-5 as the game turned over to the bottom of the inning.

The first two batters of the inning, Mark Vientos and Cedric Mullins, both hit the ball hard, but both at-bats resulted in outs. Brett Baty then singled home Jeff McNeil, the ghost runner, to get the Mets back within a run. However, with Francisco Alvarez having been removed from the game, Luis Torrens was next up to bat with the game on the line. Torrens took a couple of pitches before skying a fly ball to deep right field, very close to the wall, but it ultimately fell short and was caught for the final out.

One of the most exciting wins of the season quickly turned into one of the worst losses of the season. It is the Mets’ sixth loss in their last seven games as they are now 1.5 games out of first place in the National League East.

Player of the Game

Pete Alonso had a fantastic game despite not coming through with a chance to win in the bottom of the ninth. He went 4-for-5 with a three-run homer and three singles, totaling four RBIs on the night. With almost the entire top of the lineup slumping before the past few games, Alonso appears to be fully back.

On Deck

The Mets will continue their series with the Guardians Tuesday night, with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET. Clay Holmes (9-6, 3.45 ERA) will look to give the Mets a rare lengthy outing, while Logan Allen (7-9, 4.06 ERA), coming off a really good start against the Rockies, will take the mound for Cleveland. The game will be broadcast on SNY.

The post Mets’ Thrilling Comeback Attempt Ends in Agonizing Extra Innings Loss appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

On Friday, Baseball America released an article naming 15 standout prospects outside of the top 100. The article named A.J. Ewing, who has been phenomenal for the St. Lucie Mets early in 2025. In 17 games, Ewing owns a 1.129 OPS with 19 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. Ewing was a fourth-round pick in the 2023 draft and is quickly making a name for himself in the Mets system.

A.J. Ewing. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Latest Mets News

The Mets (18-8) lost to the Nationals (12-14) 5-4 on Monday night to end the team’s seven-game winning streak. Mark Vientos put the Mets ahead late with a bases-clearing triple, but the Nationals ultimately walked it off in the ninth.

According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Mets signed reliever Brooks Raley to a one-year deal with a team option for 2026. Raley, still recovering from Tommy John surgery, is expected to begin rehab assignments in June.

Dedniel Núñez tossed a scoreless inning in the Syracuse Mets’ game on Friday. Núñez had been struggling early this season but he was able to accomplish a clean 1-2-3 inning while reaching 99 mph on the fastball.

Will Watson, a 2024 seventh-round pick by the Mets, joined MLB Pipeline‘s top-30 Mets prospect list with Luisangel Acuña graduating.

Latest MLB News

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Twins are trading for Phillies outfielder Kody Clemens. Clemens has just seven plate appearances this year but had a .706 OPS in 43 games for Philadelphia last year.

Major League Baseball announced that Tommy Pham will be suspended for one game for what the league deemed “inappropriate actions towards fans.” Pham elected to appeal the suspension.

Max Scherzer threw 27 pitches off a mound on Friday after throwing on flat ground. He is not yet exerting maximum effort, but it’s another step towards his return from an early season thumb injury.

Former Met Todd Pratt is joining the Glacier Range Riders of the Pioneer League as their new manager.

Latest on MMO

Christian De Block analyzes what the roles of Jeff McNeil and Francisco Alvarez should be now that they’re healthy.

David Melendi writes about Drew Gilbert‘s hot start in the minors, and when he might catch the attention of the Mets. Gilbert had another good night on Friday, going 2-for-4 with a double, a walk, an RBI, two runs, and an outfield assist. He now has a .932 OPS.

On This Date in Mets History

1988: Keith Hernandez recorded his 1,000th career RBI in a game in which he recorded seven total RBIs. The Mets defeated the Braves 13-4.

Born on This Date: Joey Wendle (1990), Scott Strickland (1976), Ricky Trilcek (1969), Lou Thornton (1963), Mike Scott (1955), Amos Otis (1947).

The post Morning Briefing: Baseball America Names A.J. Ewing ‘Standout’ Prospect appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The Mets lost to the Giants on Friday, 8-7, as the team found yet another brutal way to lose. The Mets entered the eighth inning up 6-2, but surrendered five runs before allowing another in the ninth. It was the fifth time in the past 11 games that the Mets had the lead after five innings and ultimately gave it up.

Right now, everything that could go wrong is going wrong for the Mets. Still, Christian Scott had a quality start of two runs in six innings and Pete Alonso had a two-hit game with a home run. Even with the positives, the Mets are still losing and now find themselves eight games below .500 at 21-29.

Photo by Roberto Carlo

Latest Mets News

Carlos Mendoza told reporters prior to Friday’s game that Kodai Senga will be shut down for three-to-five days with triceps inflammation. Mendoza didn’t seem too worried, noting that Senga’s recovery was always going to take time, but he mentioned that the pitcher will receive a cortisone shot and be evaluated in the coming days.

On the Mets’ radio broadcast, president of baseball operations David Stearns called the current Mets roster “unconventional” and something they can’t have “in perpetuity.” He noted that the team will need to add another traditional middle infielder soon.

David Peterson made another rehab start for Triple-A Syracuse, allowing three runs (two earned) in four innings. It was Peterson’s rockiest rehab start yet, as he’s only allowed three earned runs in six rehab outings. Still, he continues to look closer and closer to rejoining the big league club.

The Mets have yet to finalize plans for Adrian Houser, per Carlos Mendoza. The team isn’t committing to him making another start and transitioning him back to the bullpen is another option.

FanGraphs released their list of the Mets’ top-42 prospects, with Christian Scott and Drew Gilbert notably in the top-two spots above Jett Williams. Jeremy Rodriguez and Ronny Mauricio round out the top-five.

Latest MLB News

The Orioles placed starting pitcher Dean Kremer on the injured list with a right triceps strain. In corresponding roster moves, the team optioned Jonathan Heasley and recalled Dillon Tate and Nick Vespi. In nine starts this year, Kremer is 3-4 with a 4.32 ERA.

The Giants signed reliever Drew Pomeranz to a major league deal, optioning Mason Black and designating Jakson Reetz for assignment. Pomeranz spent the first half of 2019 in San Francisco and has not pitched in the majors since 2021.

Former Astros great Lance Berkman resigned as the head coach of Houston Christian University baseball on Friday. There was no immediate reason given for his departure.

The Braves signed former Met Joey Wendle to a major league contract and optioned Luke Williams to Triple-A Gwinnett. Wendle is now the second former Mets infielder from earlier this year to join the Braves, following Zack Short.

The Braves also recalled lefty Ray Kerr to the big league club and placed AJ Smith-Shawver on the 15-day IL.

Legendary announcer Joe Buck was a guest announcer during Friday’s Cardinals-Cubs game with close friend Chip Caray. It was the first baseball game Buck announced since transitioning into his role at ESPN.

Latest on MMO

Michael Mayer recaps Thursday’s action in the Mets minor leagues.

Sam Neumann considers the Mets’ in-house options at third base amidst Brett Baty‘s struggles.

Finishing off our countdown of the Mets’ best prospects, Mojo Hill lists Jett Williams as our no. 1 prospect in the Mets’ system.

In the latest MMO Roundtable, some of the MMO staff give their opinion on the biggest disappointment of the season.

On This Date in Mets History

Birthdays: Neil Ramirez (35), Eric Young Jr. (39), Scott Hairston (44), Chris Young (45), Jim Marshall (93)

The post Morning Briefing: Mets Blow Another Late Lead appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Triple-A

Syracuse Mets (4-4) 2, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (4-4) 7

Box Score

• DH Ben Gamel: 2-for-4, R, HR (2), RBI, 2K
• 3B Luke Ritter: 1-for-4, R, HR (1), RBI, K
• C Tomás Nido: 2-for-3, K
• 2B Luisangel Acuña: 1-for-4, K, SB (1)

The Mets and RailRiders played a closer game than the score would make it seem, with a three-run eighth inning by Scranton/Wilkes-Barre putting the game out of reach late. The game was scoreless for the first three innings before the RailRiders added three runs in the fourth off of Jon Duplantier. Syracuse quickly responded with back-to-back homers from Ben Gamel and Luke Ritter in the top of the fifth. That was all the RailRiders would allow, though, as they shut down Syracuse’s offense the rest of the way.

The game would remain 3-2 until the seventh inning when the RailRiders scored on a wild pitch, and the three runs they scored in the eighth gave Syracuse a five-run deficit to erase in the final inning. Syracuse didn’t score, and the team dropped to .500 through eight games.

• RHP Hunter Parsons: 2 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 3 BB, 4 K
• RHP Jon Duplantier (L, 0-1): 1 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 2 K
• RHP Carlos Guzman: 2 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 1 BB, 2 K
• RHP Shintaro Fujinami: 1 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 K
• RHP Grant Hartwig: 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 1 H, 2 BB, 1 K
• C Matt O’Neill: 1/3 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 K

Yes, you read that right. Matt O’Neill, a catcher on the Triple-A roster, finished the pitching for Syracuse on a day where a few pitchers put together forgettable performances. Parsons and Guzman pitched well, combining for 4 2/3 hitless and scoring innings. Outside of them, though, Duplantier, Fujinami, and Hartwig surrendered seven runs, with Duplantier officially tabbed with the loss. The pitching didn’t get it done, but neither did the offense, as Syracuse’s series with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre comes to a disappointing close.

Double-A

New Hampshire Fisher Cats (2-1) 8, Binghamton Rumble Ponies (1-2) 4

Box Score

• SS Jett Williams: 2-for-4, R, SB (2), 2K
• RF Alex Ramírez: 2-for-4, 2 R, HR (1), RBI, SB (4), 2K
• 3B Jeremiah Jackson: 0-for-3, BB, R
• 1B Jose Peroza: 0-for-3, RBI, 3 K

Despite the lack of offense in this game from Binghamton, the Rumble Ponies jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first inning. Jett Williams and Alex Ramírez singled and pulled off a double steal to put runners on second and third with one out. A wild pitch scored Williams and advanced Ramírez to third before a walk and hit-by-pitch loaded the bases. A second wild pitch scored Ramírez before another walk, and a sacrifice fly gave Binghamton their third run of the inning.

Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

New Hampshire pitcher Adam Macko settled down after the dreadful first inning, and the only other run that Binghamton scored came on an Alex Ramírez opposite-field homer in the eighth inning. That was the first home run of the year for Ramírez, who has played well in the Rumble Ponies’ first three games this year. He has five hits, including the home run, and four stolen bases in his 11 at-bats.

• RHP Luis Moreno (L, 0-1): 3 2/3 IP, 4 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 4 K
• RHP Andre Scrubb: 1 1/3 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 K
• RHP Cameron Foster: 2 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 1 K
• RHP Trey McLoughlin: 1 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 3 K

Unfortunately for the Rumble Ponies, the Fisher Cats’ offense overcame the early deficit and took the lead in the fourth inning. Luis Moreno had locked it down for the first three innings, but it all unraveled in the fourth when he allowed four runs. Andre Scrubb replaced him and allowed another run. Cameron Foster struggled too, allowing three runs in the eighth inning to put the Rumble Ponies in a late five-run hole.

Trey McLoughlin closed it out with an impressive performance, but it was an ugly day for the pitching staff and the offense, which only recorded four hits despite three runs and two hits in the first inning. Binghamton’s series with New Hampshire ends after just three games, but the two teams will meet again in two weeks for a typical six-game series.

High-A

Brooklyn Cyclones (0-3) 0, Wilmington Blue Rocks (3-0) 1

Box Score

• RF Stanley Consuegra: 2-for-4, K
• C Drake Osborn: 1-for-3, BB
• LF Ryan Clifford: 0-for-4, 2 K

The Brooklyn Cyclones remain winless after three games, having been swept by the Wilmington Blue Rocks. The bad news is that the offense has been putrid, scoring just three runs in three games. The good news is the pitching staff has performed well, allowing eight runs in three games. The staff continued to pitch well in Sunday’s game, allowing just one unearned run, the ghost runner in the bottom of the tenth inning.

Photo by Ed Delany of Metmerized

The bright spot was Calvin Ziegler, who pitched four perfect innings and struck out nine batters. Ziegler’s fastball was up to 96 mph, and at one point he had struck out eight batters in a row. Ziegler was a 2021 second-round draft pick who pitched just one inning in 2023 after battling several injuries. If he can stay healthy, Ziegler has incredible potential, which he demonstrated in his 2024 debut. A 60-grade fastball and curveball highlight his impressive repertoire.

The rest of the staff behind Ziegler pitched well, striking out nine in 5 2/3 scoreless innings. Joshua Cornielly was the unlucky man to draw the loss in extra innings despite not allowing an earned run. Nine times out of ten, Brooklyn wins this game. The offense just hasn’t woken up through three games.

• RHP Calvin Ziegler: 4 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 9 K
• RHP Josh Hejka: 2/3 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 K
• RHP Dakota Hawkins: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
• RHP Joshua Cornielly (L, 0-1): 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K

The Brooklyn offense recorded just five hits, all singles, with Stanley Consuegra being the only man to record multiple hits. Ryan Clifford, one of the Mets’ top prospects, struggled in the leadoff spot, going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. It’s still early, but the signs from the Brooklyn offense haven’t been encouraging.

Low-A

Daytona Tortugas (2-1) 2, St. Lucie Mets (1-2) 0

Box Score

• 3B Colin Houck: 1-for-4, 2 K
• 1B Ronald Hernandez: 2-for-4
• 2B Diego Mosquera: 2-for-3

If you can’t already tell, the theme of Sunday’s minor league games was a severe lack of offense (six combined runs in four games between the four affiliates). However, like Brooklyn, St. Lucie got a brilliant pitching performance from prospect Jonah Tong. Tong is a starter, but he came into the game from the bullpen after two outs from rehabbing pitcher Max Kranick. Tong then put together an outing where he struck out 11 batters over 4 1/3 scoreless innings. That means 11 of the 13 outs he recorded were via the strikeout.

Tong’s curveball was especially impressive, as he recorded a 53% Called Strike + Whiff rate (CSW%) and consistently had 66-68 inches of drop. Like Ziegler in Brooklyn, though, he got no run support and was taken out during a scoreless game.

The St. Lucie Mets recorded six hits, also all singles and four of them came from Ronald Hernandez and Diego Mosquera. Other top prospects on the offensive side of things were Colin Houck, who went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts, and Nick Morabito, who led off and went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.

• RHP Max Kranick: 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 K
• RHP Jonah Tong: 4 1/3 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 11 K
• RHP Austin Troesser (L, 0-1): 3 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 2 K
• RHP Brett Banks: 1 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 K

The scoreless game lasted into the seventh inning when Austin Troesser, a 2023 fourth-round pick, allowed an RBI single to put the first run on the board. Brett Banks surrendered the second and final run of the game in the ninth, allowing a solo home run. The 2-0 score would hold as the final score, giving St. Lucie a series loss to the Daytona Tortugas.

The post Calvin Ziegler, Jonah Tong Dominate Despite Losses appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

It was a classic pitcher’s duel for much of the game, with Manaea and Olson cruising without much trouble. Manaea was perfect through the first four innings and didn’t allow a hit until the sixth. Seeing Manaea navigate the Tigers’ lineup with ease was a pleasant sight after Mets starters allowed nine earned runs in 13 2/3 innings against the Brewers.

The first hit Manaea allowed appeared to be a devastating one at first, as Andy Ibáñez hit a two-out single with Jake Rogers on second base. Rogers was waved home by old friend Joey Cora, but Brandon Nimmo made a fantastic throw to gun him down at the plate and keep the Tigers scoreless.

Brandon Nimmo makes the throw, Francisco Alvarez gets the tag and we stay scoreless! 😤 pic.twitter.com/GeEu9cQ2WA

— SNY (@SNYtv) April 2, 2024

That ended Manaea’s night and it was a wonderful debut for the southpaw. Through six innings he allowed just one hit and walked two while striking out eight. Those eight strikeouts tied Manaea’s season-high from just a year ago, so his outing was a resounding success.

The Mets’ bats, however, continued to struggle after a brutal opening series. Like Manaea, Olson had very little trouble. He allowed the first two Mets batters of the game to reach base via a hit-by-pitch and a walk, but he managed that situation marvelously and got into very little trouble the rest of the way. Ultimately, he left the game after 5 2/3 innings, and with both pitchers dominating the game, it was a 0-0 score entering the seventh inning.

Jorge López pitched a clean seventh inning before Brooks Raley pitched a scoreless eighth. Alex Faedo of the Tigers matched both of them with two scoreless innings, bringing the game into the ninth still scoreless. Edwin Díaz was tasked with pitching the ninth inning, and he put together a vintage performance by striking out two and inducing a weak pop-up out. That set the Mets up with an opportunity to walk the game off in the bottom of the inning, but like the first eight innings, they couldn’t muster any offense.

Michael Tonkin took the mound for the Mets to start extras, their first extra-inning game of 2024. With runners on first and third and one out, Joey Wendle mishandled a ground ball at second that probably wouldn’t have been a double play but would have surely recorded an out. Instead, no outs were recorded, and the Tigers drove across the first run of the game. Tonkin then tried to snatch a chopping ground ball that would have been a double play to end the inning, but the ball caromed off his glove and resulted in another play in which no outs were recorded.

With the bases loaded and one out, Javier Báez hit a sacrifice fly to center field, followed by a three-run homer from Carson Kelly to give the Tigers a seemingly insurmountable 5-0 lead. The Mets couldn’t even manage to drive the ghost runner home in the bottom of the inning, securing a disheartening loss while still searching for that first win of the season.

Statistic of the Game: Historic No-Hit Bid

Sean Manaea’s 5 2/3 inning no-hit bid was the longest by a Mets pitcher in their debut, according to Sarah Langs of MLB.com. He’s also the first Mets history to throw at least six innings, allow one or fewer hits, and strike out at least eight in their debut, per MMO’s Mike Mayer. It was a terrific first start of the season for Manaea, who could be poised for a big year out of the rotation should he continue to pitch this efficiently and effectively.

Player of the Game

Naturally, Manaea is the player of the game. Starling Marte gets a shoutout as he recorded two hits in what has been a strong start to the season, but Manaea singlehandedly did everything he could while the Mets’ bats stayed asleep.

On Deck

The Mets continue their series with the Tigers on Tuesday at Citi Field, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET. Adrian Houser makes his Mets and season debut, going up against Casey Mize, who hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2022. The game will air on SNY.

The post Mets Drop to 0-4 With Shutout Loss to Tigers appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Peterson looked comfortable throughout his outing, tying a career-high with 10 strikeouts and walking just two batters over 5 2/3 innings. It wasn’t until the fifth inning that he found himself in trouble, and it was the defense that let him down.

In his first game in the big leagues at third base, Ronny Mauricio couldn’t handle a tough hop which allowed Noelvi Marte to advance from first to third. A wild pitch in the following at-bat allowed Marte to break for the plate, and a clean throw by Omar Narváez likely would have thrown him out, but Narváez threw it into the infield to give the Reds a 1-0 advantage.

The Reds tacked on the following inning as Peterson grew fatigued. Spencer Steer hit a two-run homer to extend the Reds’ lead to 3-0. After getting two outs, Peterson allowed two more baserunners to reach which would ultimately end his outing. Over the 5 2/3 innings he pitched, Peterson gave up three runs (two earned) on six hits and two walks while tallying double-digit strikeouts in another promising performance for the former first-round pick.

Home run No. 45 for Pete Alonso is a three-run, game-tying shot against the Reds. pic.twitter.com/XiwRjayFTg

— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) September 16, 2023

Unfortunately for the Mets, though, Greene was at the top of his game, carrying a no-hitter into the fifth inning. After allowing a leadoff double to Jeff McNeil which broke up the no-hitter, Greene still managed to escape the inning scoreless before getting into trouble yet again in the sixth inning. With two outs and two runners on, Reds’ manager David Bell decided to show faith in his young starter by leaving him in there to face Pete Alonso who served as the tying run.

Bell’s decision quickly backfired as Alonso unloaded a three-run shot into the seats in left field to tie the game and put a damper on what was an otherwise brilliant outing from Greene. Alonso’s homer, his 45th of the year, put the game back at square one.

With the game squared at 3-3, the Reds wasted no time regaining the lead. His former teammate at the University of Florida, Jonathan India, punched right back in the top of the seventh inning with a two-run homer off Grant Hartwig to put the Reds ahead once again, this time 5-3.

The Mets had multiple opportunities late to at least tie the game, putting the tying runs on base in both the seventh and eighth innings. In the seventh, Ian Gibaut got Mark Vientos to ground into a crucial double play to hinder the Mets’ scoring threat before Alexis Díaz, the younger brother of Edwin Díaz, silenced the Mets’ threat the following inning.

The Reds kept Díaz on the mound for the bottom of the ninth, relying on him to record a five-out save. Without much trouble, Díaz set the Mets’ batters down in order to give the Reds a 5-3 win. The loss for the Mets dropped their season record down to 68-79 as the team inches closer to clinching a losing season.

Player of the Game

Despite not earning a win, David Peterson’s start makes him absolutely deserving of the Metsmerized player of the game. He kept the Mets in the game, going toe-to-toe with Hunter Greene, who looked phenomenal before allowing the three-run home run to Pete Alonso in the sixth inning. Peterson’s 10 strikeouts along with just two walks is a very positive sign for a pitcher who has struggled with command his entire career.

On Deck

The series with the Reds will continue on Saturday evening with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET. Tylor Megill (8-7, 5.03 ERA) takes the mound for the Mets, looking to continue a good stretch of starts. On the other side, rookie southpaw Andrew Abbott (8-5, 3.64 ERA) gets the start for the Reds. The game will be broadcast on SNY and can be listened to on WCBS 880.

The post Alonso’s Three-Run Blast Not Enough As Mets Fall To Reds 5-3 appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

In his return to the big leagues after a shaky stint in the minors, Megill was hit hard right from the outset. The electrifying one-two punch of Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson led off the game with a single and a home run, putting the Mets in an early 2-0 hole to try to climb out of.

Megill managed to limit any further damage before settling in for a scoreless second inning. However, he allowed a run in each of the next three innings to end his night, including a fifth-inning homer off the bat of Anthony Santander. Megill exited the game having given up five earned runs over 4 2/3 innings, allowing nine hits and striking out three.

“I know that some people might not look at it that way, but I thought it was a good step for him stuff-wise,” Buck Showalter said of Megill after the game. “They did a nice job with him down in Syracuse. He looked more like himself and it’s got a chance to progress better as we go.”

On the other side, Gibson pitched well against the Mets’ lineup aside from two hiccups in the fourth and sixth innings. After throwing three perfect innings with six strikeouts his first time through the order, Gibson allowed a double to Brandon Nimmo and a two-run homer to Jeff McNeil, McNeil’s fourth long ball of the year and his first in nearly two months.

Jeff McNeil gets the Mets on the board with a 2-run homer! pic.twitter.com/PXNM76zmzs

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 6, 2023

McNeil delivered again in the sixth inning after Francisco Lindor reached base via a two-out bloop double. He lined a ball into the outfield which scored Lindor to make it a 5-3 game, keeping the Mets firmly within striking distance. Gibson finished strong, though, exiting after seven strong innings and never allowing the Mets to take the lead.

Baltimore responded to McNeil’s RBI hit in the bottom of the inning, scoring for the fourth consecutive inning with an RBI double off the bat of Ryan McKenna to give the Orioles a 6-3 lead. The O’s added on again in the ninth against Phil Bickford, with Rutschman hitting an RBI double to extend the lead to four.

That proved too much for the Mets to overcome as they never threatened to take the lead, let alone score, over the final three innings. With Megill struggling on the mound and McNeil providing all the offense, the Mets once again gave themselves little to no chance to win. With their fifth consecutive loss following the trade deadline, the Mets now sit at 50-60 on the year.

Megill’s Return to the Rotation

Tylor Megill returned to the big league rotation out of necessity with both Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer out of the picture. He struggled against a potent Orioles lineup, giving up a run in four of the five innings he was on the mound to raise his season ERA from 5.17 to 5.45. If there’s one positive that can be taken away from his outing, it’s that the velocity on his fastball looks as if it’s back to normal after it dipped in several of his starts earlier in the year.

On Deck

The Mets will wrap up their series with the Orioles on Sunday at 1:35 p.m. ET. José Quintana (0-2, 3.57 ERA) will be on the mound for his fourth start of the year for the Mets, while Kyle Bradish (7-6, 3.32 ERA) will look to continue his strong season for Baltimore. The game will be broadcast on SNY.

The post Mets Drop Fifth Straight, Lose 7-3 To Orioles appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

“We have to play better,” Buck Showalter said following the game. “Some people that are getting an opportunity have to take advantage of it… We’re just not pitching very well and not scoring many runs.”

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

One of the Orioles players who took advantage of the poor Mets pitching was James McCann. McCann, who had two notoriously rough years with the Mets from 2021-2022, greeted his old team by reaching base four times, driving in five runs, and even stealing third base. Yes, you read that right.

McCann’s first two-run base hit opened the scoring in the fourth inning. With two outs and a chance to escape the inning with runners on second and third, John Curtiss threw a first-pitch fastball right down the middle that McCann sent back up the middle to give the O’s a 2-0 lead.

After the Mets’ offensive performance in Kansas City, a two-run Baltimore lead seemed much greater than that. This was especially so due to Dean Kremer, Baltimore’s starter, easing his way through the Mets’ lineup across the first five innings, allowing just one hit and one walk.

Kremer gifted the Mets a chance to score in the sixth, though, when he lost all command and walked the bases loaded. Francisco Lindor took advantage by looping a ball into the shallow outfield, tying the game at two apiece and giving the Mets some rare life.

Any momentum the Mets may have gained was squashed immediately in the bottom of the inning. The Orioles’ bats had their way with the newly-acquired Phil Bickford, tagging him for four runs over 1/3 of an inning. After an RBI single off the bat of Ryan O’Hearn gave the Orioles the lead again, McCann came to the plate once again with two runners on and launched a ball into left field that would have been a home run in almost any other ballpark. Instead, he had to settle for a two-run double to extend the Baltimore lead to 5-2. McCann then successfully stole third base before being driven home on a sacrifice fly.

Baltimore’s offense put up another four-run inning in the seventh off of Reed Garrett. Rookie Jordan Westburg hit his second career home run, a three-run shot, before McCann added yet another RBI hit, this time an opposite field single. The Mets added the final run of the game in the eighth inning, a fielder’s choice off the bat of Danny Mendick, to make it a 10-3 ballgame.

Before James McCann decided to terrorize his former team, David Peterson drew his first start for the Mets since being transferred to the bullpen. Despite a shaky first inning he exited the game after three scoreless, a successful outing considering he was never going to go the length he normally would if he was stretched out and firmly in the rotation.

Nevertheless, the prowess of the Orioles’ offense and the debacle that is the Mets’ bullpen made this game almost unfair upon Peterson’s departure. With the loss, their fourth straight, the Mets find themselves at 50-59.

James McCann Revenge Game

The former Met entered Friday night’s contest with the Mets with just 10 RBIs and a .570 OPS on the year. In this game alone, he went 3-for-3 with a double, two singles, a walk, five RBIs, and a steal of third base that directly resulted in another run. He was easily the biggest producer for either team, an irony that just seems fitting.

On Deck

The series between the Mets and Orioles will continue Saturday evening, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET. Tylor Megill (6-4, 5.17 ERA) will rejoin the Mets’ rotation and notch his first big league start in over a month. Baltimore will send Kyle Gibson (10-6, 4.53 ERA) to the mound as he looks to record his fourth straight quality start. The game will be broadcast on SNY.

The post James McCann, Orioles Embarrass Mets 10-3 appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The Mets began the second half of the season on Friday night with a 6-0 loss to the Dodgers. Brandon Nimmo led off the game with a double, and the Mets were unable to record a hit for the rest of the game afterwards as Julio Urías shined. Justin Verlander also struggled in the game, giving up three earned runs over five innings while walking six batters. The loss is the Mets’ third in a row going back to before the All-Star break, and it puts the team seven games below .500 at 42-49.

Latest Mets News

The Mets activated José Quintana off the injured list, and he is expected to make his Mets debut next Wednesday against the White Sox. To make room for Quintana, the team designated T.J. McFarland for assignment.

With Quintana activated, David Peterson is expected to pitch out of the bullpen for now. He appeared for the first time in relief in last night’s game, giving up an earned run in one inning.

Prior to yesterday’s game, Buck Showalter said that Max Scherzer has been dealing with a bit of a stiff neck but the plan is still for him to pitch tomorrow against the Dodgers.

The Mets officially announced the signings of their two top draft picks, Colin Houck and Brandon Sproat.

Ronny Mauricio was the only Mets’ prospect listed on Baseball America‘s latest Top 100, coming in at no. 65. Kevin Parada and Jett Williams were notably left off the list.

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Latest MLB News

Shane Bieber underwent an MRI on his right elbow and will not make his next start while the Guardians await the test results.

The Padres acquired outfielder Ben Gamel from the Rays. Gamel, a longtime MLB veteran, has posted an .865 OPS with Tampa Bay’s Triple-A affiliate so far this season.

Latest on MMO

Jack Markowski listed five Mets storylines to watch in the second half of the season.

Michael Mayer wrote about impressive pitching prospect Tyler Stuart‘s promotion to Double-A Binghamton.

Michael Famulari graded the first half performances out of the designated hitter role for the Mets.

Rivka Boord looked into the ongoing struggles of Jeff McNeil.

Christian De Block analyzed the current state of the NL East coming out of the All-Star break.

Alexis Farinacci wrote about the reports that the Angels may listen to offers for Shohei Ohtani.

Allison Waxman discussed three Mets players poised for a big second half of the season.

On This Date in Mets History

1991: The Mets traded away 1986 World Series champion Ron Darling to the Montreal Expos for reliever Tim Burke, ending Darling’s tenure with the Mets.

Birthdays: Fernando Nieve (41), Wilson Delgado (51), James Baldwin (52), Don Bosch (81)

The post Morning Briefing: Mets Begin Second Half with Shutout Loss appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

After a five-iinning start by Carlos Carrasco was followed up by two solid combined innings from Jeff Brigham and Brooks Raley, David Robertson entered the game in the eighth with a two-run lead. With one out in the inning, a Pete Alonso throwing error and a walk was followed by a three-run homer off the bat of rookie catcher Patrick Bailey. The Mets could not mount a comeback and the Giants won the game 5-4, handing the Mets yet another brutal loss.

On multiple occasions throughout the night, Alonso was seen expressing frustration, including breaking his bat over his knee. “I’m fine with that. They care a lot,” said Buck Showalter after the game. “They’re all wanting to know why. We’ve got to figure out the reasons why.”

“It sucks,” Robertson said. “We’re trying. It seems like nothing is going our way. This clubhouse hasn’t given up, that’s for sure.”

David Robertson. Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

The Mets had plenty of chances to win the game, even though Carrasco wasn’t very efficient. His 92 pitches after five innings prevented him from going further in the game, but he gave up just two runs and struck out a season high six batters.

Because Carrasco, Brigham, and Raley were able to hold San Francisco to just two runs through seven innings, the Mets played with the lead for nearly the entire game. They started the scoring in the first inning on a Jeff McNeil RBI double and regained the lead in the second with an Omar Narváez sacrifice fly.

When old friend Wilmer Flores stied the game with a solo homer in the fifth inning, the Mets once again rebounded and took the lead right back. McNeil came through like he did in the first inning with his second RBI double of the game. The play was originally ruled a ground-rule double which would have kept Nimmo, the lead baserunner, at third with two outs in the inning. However, the umpires ruled that fan interference occurred and awarded Nimmo home plate.

A Tommy Pham solo homer in the sixth inning gave the Mets another run to make it a 4-2 ballgame, but, of course, that insurance run wound up being moot. The eighth inning three-run home run off of Robertson was a blow that made even a one-run deficit seem insurmountable.

The Mets did get the tying run on base in the ninth after Luis Guillorme walked. But Starling Marte came into the game to pinch run and, when attempting to steal second, he was hosed by Bailey who played the hero yet again. It was the Mets first caught stealing attempt since May 10, but the putout ended the Mets’ threat. On the very next pitch, Nimmo struck out to give the Mets their third loss in a row.

“Tougher things have been overcome,” Showalter said when asked about being 10 games under .500. “I tell you one thing, I wouldn’t doubt these guys. Somebody’s gonna make a mistake if they do.”

Stat of the Game

Only the Royals finished with a worse record than the Mets in June in all of Major League Baseball. The 7-19 record the Mets put up is the team’s worst calendar month since June 2018 when they went 5-21.

The Mets finish June with a 7-19 record, worst in the National League. Only the Royals (6-19, and losing tonight) produced a worse mark this month.

It is the worst calendar month for the Mets since they went 5-21 in June 2018.

— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) July 1, 2023

Player Focus

Jeff McNeil hasn’t had a game like tonight in a long time. He simply hasn’t looked right all season, entering the game with a .255 batting average and just a .657 OPS after winning the maj0r-league batting title a season ago. However, he finished 2-for-4 on Friday with two opposite-field doubles and two RBIs in what is hopefully the start of a bounce back second-half campaign.

On Deck

The series with the Giants continues Saturday afternoon with first pitch scheduled for 4:10 p.m. ET. Justin Verlander (2-4, 4.11 ERA) will take the mound for the Mets after going five scoreless innings against the Brewers in his last start. For the Giants, it will be Anthony DeSclafani (4-7, 4.28 ERA) getting the start. The game will be broadcast on SNY.

The post Robertson Gives Up Three-Run Homer, Mets Lose 5-4 to Giants appeared first on Metsmerized Online.