MIAMI — Pete Alonso may have been the Mets’ lone All-Star, but he certainly hasn’t been playing like one lately.
If his .576 OPS in July wasn’t enough of a blemish on Sunday, the power-hitting first baseman had three potentially game-changing at-bats with runners in scoring position against the Marlins and came up short in each one.
The Mets’ lineup has declined after a hot spell, making Alonso’s shortcomings more apparent.
They lost 4-2 at LawnDepot Park that day and need to win Monday’s game to advance in a four-game series against the bottom-placed team in the National League.
Alonso thwarted a comeback with a fielder’s choice hit with two runners on in the fifth inning, then grounded out to leave the tying runner on third base in the seventh.
He also ended the first inning with a flyout with a runner on second base. He has just two home runs in 67 at-bats this month.
The Mets (50-48) have averaged just 2.3 points in their three games since the All-Star break.
Christian Scott left the game after four innings and 75 pitches.
The rookie allowed three earned runs on seven hits, struck out four and walked two.
Extra-base hitting continues to be a key factor for him, as a three-run homer by Jazz Chisholm in the fourth inning helped the Marlins score.
Scott allowed eight home runs in 47 1/3 innings.
The Mets took a 1-0 lead into the fourth inning after a throwing error by catcher Nick Fortes trying to tag out Mark Vientos from first base.
The throw hit Vientos in the helmet, momentarily stunning him, but Alonso advanced to third base. Luis Torrens followed with a sacrifice fly.
Alonso and Vientos began the counterattack with back-to-back singles against Trevor Rogers.
Chisholm’s home run put the Mets behind 1-3.
Xavier Edwards and Vidal Bourjan each singled to start the inning and advanced to second and third on a sacrifice bunt by Fortes before Chisholm drove in a hanging slider into the right field stands.
J.D. Martinez hit a one-run single in the fifth inning to put the Mets up 3-2.
Harrison Bader reached base on a throwing error by Fortes to second base, and Brandon Nimmo was walked before Martinez recorded his 40th RBI of the season.
But the Mets missed a chance to at least tie the game as Alonso hit into a fielder’s choice and Vientos struck out, leaving Nimmo on third base.
In the sixth inning, Adrian Hauser got the better of the pinch by getting Brujan on base with his third single of the day and then getting Fortes on base with a walk, then getting Chisholm into a double play.
Francisco Lindor advanced to third base in the seventh inning, singled on a balk and error by Fortes on a throw back to the pitcher, but did not remain on third base as Alonso was out.
Hauser got two outs quickly in the seventh inning before Jake Berger homered to extend the Marlins’ lead to 4-2. It was the final batter Hauser faced.
Jake Diekman kept the final four outs scoreless.
