St. Louis – The Mets had chances in both games on Sunday that hinted they should have won, but failing to capitalize flipped the narrative on its head.
More often than not, they seemed like lost runners on the field.
In the first game of the doubleheader, they couldn’t mount a comeback, leaving the bases loaded in both the sixth and seventh innings, ultimately falling to the Cardinals, 6-5.
In the second game, they squandered numerous opportunities during the mid-innings, losing 5-4 in the series’ deciding match.
This marked the Mets’ fourth defeat in five games, compounding their issues with back-to-back series losses.
Despite having 10 hits in each game, they stranded 12 runners in the first and 10 in the second.
Tyler Megill pitched five innings, giving up four runs on four hits while striking out six and walking three.
After jumping to a 4-2 lead with four runs in three innings, the Cardinals leveled the score, with contributions from Lars Nootbaar and Masyn Winn who both walked, setting up RBI singles from Nolan Arenado and Wilson Contreras.
Arenado’s grounders seemed to dominate the inning’s plays, but a misplay by Mark Vientos on Pete Alonso’s throw extended the inning, allowing Contreras to score.
Juan Soto’s attempt at a three-run homer was thwarted when Victor Scott II made a great catch at the wall.
Once again, the Mets left the bases loaded.
Max Kranick gave up the critical go-ahead run after Scott’s RBI double.
Alec Burleson’s two-run homer sent nine batters to the plate and flipped the momentum after the Mets had briefly led.
Alonso’s single was followed by Sterling Marte’s two-run single and an additional run from Francisco Alvarez’s groundout.
Blade Tidwell made his major league debut in Game 1.
Moreover, Jesse Winker was sidelined due to what the team described as discomfort in his right side.
Tidwell, who initially played left field but has since taken on DH duties this season, was to undergo an MRI prior to the second game.
Over 3²/₃ innings, Tidwell allowed six runs on nine hits, along with three walks and two strikeouts, before being taken out after 82 pitches.
He acknowledged that he needs to improve his command, especially with runners on base.
The Mets rallied in both the eighth and ninth innings but left potential runs stranded each time.
In the eighth, they scored twice but again found themselves with loaded bases.
Overall, they were 15-for-3 with runners in scoring position in Game 1.
Alonso and Brandon Nimmo produced consecutive doubles in the first inning, opening the game’s scoring.
Contreras equalized with a homer of his own, bringing additional runners onto the bases before Tidwell managed to get out of trouble with a strikeout.
Winker’s sacrifice fly put the Mets back ahead, 2-1, after a single from Soto and another double from Alonso.
Despite Alonso reaching third on a passed ball, he was ultimately left stranded.
Tidwell found himself in hot water after three successive singles loaded the bases again, leading to Nolan Gorman’s sacrifice fly that leveled the score 2-2.
The Cardinals eventually knocked Tidwell out in the fourth; Burleson walked to load the bases, and Donovan’s RBI single along with Arenado’s walk extended their lead.
Contreras’s two-run single deepened the Mets’ deficit to 6-2 and marked Tidwell’s end for the day.
Jeff McNeil then stepped in and smacked a single, driving in a run from Francisco Lindor’s fielder’s choice.
However, after Lindor reached second due to an error, Soto struck out for the second consecutive time, halting their momentum.
Lindor’s subsequent two-run single got the Mets within one at 6-5.
Yet again, they left the bases loaded as Nemo struck out against JoJo Romero in the eighth.
In the ninth, Vientos had a single and faced closer Ryan Helsley, but pinch runner Marte remained stranded at third.
