PHOENIX — Mets Struggle in 5-1 Loss to Diamondbacks

The Mets didn’t have their best performance that day, showing a lack of respect for all the mothers out there.

No-shows have been typical, but on Sunday, they compounded their issues with poor defense—which you might call a lack of run prevention—and left the game losing 5-1 to the Diamondbacks.

The Mets (15-25) managed just one run in the ninth inning on Friday, but picked it up with two runs in the 10th to secure a win for the second consecutive game. However, they dropped the series, ending the trip with a 5-4 record after visits to Anaheim and Colorado.

Juan Soto, the team’s standout hitter, struggled significantly, going 4-for-33 with a .121 batting average and only one home run on the road.

“It was tough. I missed the ball a lot,” Soto reflected. “They were throwing me pitches that I didn’t connect with. I’ve been working on my mechanics and routine with the hitting coaches. It’s frustrating to keep missing it.”

If the lackluster offensive showing (a mere five hits) wasn’t bad enough, Andy Ibáñez made two throwing errors while starting at third base. The second error resulted in three unearned runs for the D-backs during the sixth inning, which put the Mets in a serious 5-1 deficit.

D-backs lefty Eduardo Rodriguez had a no-hitter going until the sixth inning and continued strong into the ninth. He allowed just one earned run on four hits and three walks over 8¹/₃ innings.

“We chased it today,” Coach Carlos Mendoza stated. “Early on, he kept getting us with changeups, leading to ground balls. We just couldn’t adjust and ended up swinging through pitches when we needed to capitalize.”

So, how can Coach Mendoza steer his players away from those overly aggressive swings?

“We’ve been monitoring this for a while, trying to get it sorted,” Mendoza said. “It seems to be worse when we’re ahead in the count, and we noticed it over the past few days.”

Huascar Brazoban, the opener, walked both Ildemaro Vargas and Nolan Arenado in the second inning. Tobias Myers got two outs, but Ryan Waldschmidt’s double then put the D-backs ahead 2-0.

Soto’s walk in the fourth inning ended a stretch of 22 consecutive shutouts by Mets batters across two games. However, nothing much followed; after Bo Bichette was out, Austin Slater grounded into a double play to end the inning.

Soto was asked about the main challenge for the batting order.

“There’s nothing wrong here,” Soto emphasized. “We’re all professionals and can handle this. Players might be struggling a bit, but I trust it will pass.”

David Peterson allowed a two-out single to James McCann in the fourth, but Jorge Barosa’s grounder should have wrapped up the inning. Unfortunately, Mark Vientos made a missed throw on Ibáñez’s attempt to get the out at third base. Peterson regained his focus and retired Waldschmidt.

With two outs in the fifth, Peterson made another throwing error on Gerardo Perdomo’s bunt, which extended the inning. He then advanced a runner on a wild pitch before retiring Adrian del Castillo.

Rodriguez had 5¹/₃ hitless innings until Carson Benge finally broke the no-hitter. Luis Torrence hit an RBI double to put the Mets ahead 2-1. After Soto was out and Bichette walked, Rodriguez grounded out Slater.

Ibáñez’s second error allowed Vargas to take the lead in the sixth inning. Peterson got two outs, but Barosa and Waldschmidt each singled, pushing the D-backs to a 3-1 advantage. Ketel Marte’s subsequent triple increased the lead to 5-1, with all runs being unearned.

“I was standing a bit wider, so the throw went astray,” Ibáñez explained through an interpreter.

Peterson performed admirably in relief, not allowing an earned run until the fifth inning.

“I felt in control of every pitch,” Peterson noted. “Everything felt like it was going well.”