Mets’ Struggles Continue Against Braves

The New York Mets faced yet another tough game on Tuesday night, encountering a familiar foe in the NL East Division. With a sweltering temperature hitting 97 degrees at Citi Field, the Mets lost their third consecutive match, falling to the Atlanta Braves with a score of 7-4. This game set the record for being the hottest played at the Mets’ home park.

Braves pitcher Spencer Strider took the mound and managed to pitch five full innings, during which he even hit Juan Soto before exiting the game.

Soto couldn’t hide his frustration when the home plate umpire called a third strike against him within just five innings. Strider attempted to clarify that there was no hard feeling between him and Soto. As he made his way to the dugout, he remarked that the fastball he threw on a 3-2 count, which many thought should’ve been a ball, actually landed “in the middle” of the strike zone.

Strider didn’t stop there; he reiterated his point multiple times to make sure Soto understood his perspective. After walking earlier, Soto eventually recorded his fifth strikeout of the evening.

With this win, Strider improved his season record to 3-5. His previous season had been challenging; despite winning the National League and the Cy Young Award vote in 2023, he only managed to pitch in two games last year due to an elbow injury that required surgery.

Meanwhile, Soto, who recently signed an unprecedented 15-year contract worth $765 million with the Mets, has had a notable performance this season, contributing 17 home runs and 43 RBIs across 79 games.