SAN FRANCISCO — The Mets seem to have introduced a new element to their recent struggles.
This time, it wasn’t their hitting that let them down; rather, their pitching failed to deliver alongside an already faltering batting lineup on Thursday night.
David Peterson got off to a rough start and despite limiting the Giants to five hits, the Mets fell 7-2, marking their third consecutive loss.
Peterson had been doing well in his last five starts, beginning with 5 1/3 scoreless innings against the Pirates last Saturday. Although pitchers like Nolan McLean, Clay Holmes, Kodai Chiga, and Freddy Peralta performed admirably, the Mets struggled to generate hits with runners in scoring positions, winning just one game and losing three in that stretch.
In this matchup, the Mets went 0-for-3 with runners in scoring positions, and over their last four games, they’ve been a dismal 1-for-32. Robbie Ray got the best of the Mets early, and the Giants’ bullpen added to the woes with 3²/³ scoreless innings.
Peterson lasted only 4¹/³ innings, allowing six runs—five of which were earned—on nine hits while walking two and striking out five. He received his walking papers after just 68 pitches.
Bo Bichette got the Mets on the board first with an RBI double in the first inning. Francisco Lindor walked to start the game, followed by a fielder’s choice from Juan Soto. Bichette’s sharp hit to left sent Soto home, marking his fourth RBI of the season, even though he began the night hitting .111.
However, Peterson struggled right away, giving up three hits in the first inning and digging the Mets into a 3-1 hole. Luis Arraez kicked things off with an RBI triple, and a double from Matt Chapman brought in the second run. Peterson had a chance to minimize the damage but fumbled a flip from Mark Vientos while covering first, allowing Chapman to score.
Mark Vientos hit his first home run of the season, which briefly brought the Mets to within 3-2.
Then, in the third inning, consecutive singles from Heriot Ramos, Arraez, and Chapman loaded the bases for the Giants. Sacrifice flies from Lee and Harrison Bader extended the Giants’ lead to 5-2. Peterson faced more challenges in the first inning, allowing a single to Daniel Suzak before Casey Schmidt walked, although he managed to strike out Willie Adames to quell that threat.
After issuing a walk to Lee in the sixth, Peterson was replaced by Sean Manaea, who retired Bader but then walked Susak and allowed Schmidt to drive in another run, extending the Giants’ lead to 6-2.
In the sixth, Rafael Devers hit a solo home run, pushing the Mets further down to a 7-2 deficit. His 90 mph four-seamer barely cleared Luis Robert Jr.’s glove.
Manaea pitched 3²/₃ innings in relief, allowing one earned run on four hits and two walks. The Mets intend to keep him on hold until they require a sixth starter, as he threw only 29 pitches in his last appearance on Sunday.
Marcus Semien, who had been in a 0-for-20 slump, broke out with an infield hit in the seventh.
The Mets are planning to release McLean on Friday, as they seek to reignite a team in need of a spark. McLean had given up two earned runs over five innings against the Pirates on Sunday, but the Mets lost in the 10th, initiating a stretch of four losses in five games.
