Mets Lose Another Game Despite Opportunities
The Mets had a chance to turn things around. I mean, really, this could have been their moment under interim coach Andy Green, aiming to ride some momentum and build a winning streak ahead of the trade deadline. But, in an afternoon filled with missed opportunities, it all slipped away.
In front of 38,770 fans at Citi Field, they suffered a frustrating 5-4 loss against the Phillies. At times, they displayed some promising energy, but just as quickly, that hope turned to despair.
With this defeat— their eighth in nine games and the fourth series loss in a row—the Mets (35-49) struggled to find their groove under their new manager.
Interestingly, they managed to find multiple ways to lose, struggling with runners in scoring position at 2-for-16 on Sunday. This inefficiency truly cost them—not just this game, but the entire series.
It’s worth noting that they were missing Francisco Lindor, who had just returned from a two-month absence due to a calf strain. In his absence, the lineup included Eric Wagaman as the No. 4 hitter, alongside others whose performance has been less than stellar.
At crucial moments, Green opted to rest Lindor fully. Unfortunately, the starting pitching was also a weak point. Without a solid fifth option, the Mets struggled, using their best arm sparingly in relief situations, which ultimately hurt them.
Kodai Senga, for instance, pitched decently but was overworked and faced challenges, notably allowing a two-run homer to Kyle Schwarber in the seventh.
Yet, the Mets had their chances, particularly in the eighth inning. With one out and the bases loaded, they were poised to score, yet Ronnie Mauricio popped out followed by Francisco Alvarez striking out amidst the crowd’s disappointment.
It wasn’t a standout performance for Mauricio or Alvarez, and Brett Batty also missed an opportunity, grounding out at a critical moment earlier in the game.
Throughout the match, the Mets struggled to score until the fifth inning against Jesus Luzardo, who demonstrated solid pitching by striking out three batters with runners on base. The situation slightly improved when Carson Benge hit a home run in the fifth to close the gap to 3-1.
But frustration turned to brief joy when Luzardo was ejected. Alvarez’s double shifted the momentum, and AJ Ewing’s impressive two-run homer in the sixth inning appeared to spark hope.
Yet, even after gaining a lead, it all felt precarious—especially when Chiga faced Schwarber later, wasting further chances. The Mets’ ups and downs painted a vivid picture of their current struggles, leaving fans wondering what could have been.
