Mets’ downturn persists with another bullpen breakdown in defeat to Mariners

Mets Celebrate Beatles Anniversary with Tough Loss

Last night, there was a bit of celebration at the ballpark—it marked 60 years since the Beatles played at Shea Stadium. Quite the nostalgic throwback, right?

But on the field, things weren’t quite as celebratory for the Mets. They’ve been struggling lately, and it showed again. This time, they managed to lose a game in a rather frustrating manner.

Carlos Mendoza’s team still clings to a half-game lead for the final NL wildcard spot, which is… well, better than nothing, but losing an 8-1 lead to the Reds is tough to swallow.

Sean Manaea didn’t do himself or the team any favors, giving up two home runs and four runs total over five innings. It’s been a rough return from the injured list for him—hasn’t completed six innings in ages. His ERA over the past three games? A staggering 7.98.

In a sad twist, Ryan Healthley was unable to maintain a 6-5 lead in the seventh, similar to how he lost an 8-6 lead just the night before against the Braves. Seattle managed to pull together some hits, thanks to their power hitters like Cal Raleigh and Eugenio Suárez.

The Mariners, not stopping there, added four runs in the inning—Dominic Canzone and Donovan Solano contributed, and Cole Young hit a two-run double off Brooks Raley.

Frankie Montas, who’s been demoted, also faced some backlash while giving up another run in the eighth. Luckily, Francisco Alvarez and the Mets fought back with a three-run homer. A little flicker of hope, maybe?

Francisco Lindor also showed up big, hitting a couple of home runs himself, while Juan Soto made a mark as well, adding to his impressive tally from last season.

Before the game, they even held a concert featuring a Beatles tribute band. It was a nice touch to commemorate that iconic 1965 concert, with players’ images altered to give off a Beatles vibe.

The Mariners, however, weren’t fazed. Right out of the gate, they managed to score with a single from Randy Arozarena, and the subsequent RBI double from Julio Rodríguez. It set the stage for a not-so-great evening for the Mets.

Then, Lindor quickly responded with a home run of his own, marking his 23rd of the season. It tied him with franchise records for leadoff home runs, which is impressive, sure, but it didn’t change the game’s outcome.

Mitch Gerber tacked on another blow to Manaea, turning a 3-2 pitch into a homer for a Seattle lead. The hits just kept coming, and you could feel the frustration mounting.

However, with all that back and forth, Lindor managed to keep the Mets in the game with a couple of favorable contributions, while Lowry didn’t shy away from connecting with a home run of his own. He’s now closing in on a unique record for catchers.

In the bottom of the inning, Lindor struck again with another two-run shot. It was kind of dramatic, really, pushing the Mets ahead for a brief moment. Then Soto contributed to the excitement with his own home run, giving the Mets a 6-4 lead.