The New York Mets (20-23) lost to the Tampa Bay Rays (32-11) 8-5 on Tuesday night. Justin Verlander had a forgetful debut in Queens, surrendering multiple home runs and allowing six earned runs across five innings.

Verlander’s debut in Queens started strong. The 40-year-old stranded runners in the first inning and struck out two batters in the first two innings. However, the Rays got to him in the third. Verlander allowed Harold Ramírez and Wander Franco to reach base, setting Isaac Paredes up for his big day. The third baseman pulled a hanging curveball to left field, giving the Rays a 3-0 lead.

Tampa Bay attacked Verlander again in the top of the fourth. Christian Bethancourt got the Rays started with a one-out double and was almost stranded when Verlander retired Jose Siri for the second out. However, Ramírez hit a clutch opposite-field single to extend the Rays’ lead to 4-0.

Parades struck again in the top of the fifth inning. After Brandon Lowe led off the inning with a double, the right-handed batter pulled another home run to left field, increasing the Rays lead to 6-0. Paredes has blossomed since joining the Rays last season and has hit 26 home runs in 140 games with Tampa.

The Mets got a run back in the bottom of the fifth inning. With two outs in the inning, Brett Baty tagged Yonny Chirinos for a solo home run to cut the Mets’ deficit to 6-1. It was the first home that Chirinos has allowed in 2023, and the first home run for Baty since May 1.

Verlander was pulled from the game after the bottom of the fifth inning. The former Tiger struggled against MLB’s best team, allowing eight hits and six earned runs in five innings. Prior to tonight’s start, Verlander had a career 3.17 ERA against the Rays.

The Rays got a run back in the top of the sixth inning. Facing Dominic Leone, Siri hit a line drive that stayed up for a solo home run, increasing the Rays’ lead to 7-1. Leone has been shaky in his early Mets tenure and has a 5.40 ERA in 6 2/3 innings.

New York brought the game within striking distance in the bottom of the seventh. Facing Chirinos in his fourth inning of work, Jeff McNeil led off the inning with a single. Pete Alonso followed with his 14th home run of the season, bringing the score to 7-3.

The Rays didn’t falter in the top of the eighth, though, and added a run after the Mets strong seventh. Facing Josh Walker in his MLB debut, Siri walked with one out and stole second base. Ramírez followed with his second RBI single of the game, extending the Rays lead to 8-3.

The Mets made things interesting in the bottom of the ninth, but fell short. Eduardo Escobar drilled a pinch-hit two-run home run off Jake Diekman to cut the Mets’ deficit to 8-5, but Starling Marte and Baty were retired to end the game.

With the loss on Tuesday to the Rays, the Mets fell to 20-23. New York ended their 56-inning homer-less streak, but the pitching failed to keep New York in the game. Following Tuesday’s loss, the Mets’ team ERA increased to 4.77.

Player of the Game

Pete Alonso earned the player of the game in the Mets’ 8-5 loss to the Rays. The Polar Bear clubbed his 14th home run of the year, moving back into first place with Max Muncy for first place in MLB. His home run on Tuesday Night also ended a 19-at-bat stretch with zero extra-base hits.

On Deck

The Mets host the Rays on Wednesday for the second game of the series. Kodai Senga takes the mound after striking out seven, but allowing five earned runs against the Reds. The Rays haven’t announced a starter for Wednesday’s game, but Metsmerized’s speculated that rookie Taj Bradley would receive the start.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. on Wednesday. The game is available on SNY and MLB Network (blackout restrictions apply) to watch, and WCBS 880.