Boston – Mets Continue Offensive Struggles

Pitching might be enough to win for the Mets this season, but it’s clear they need more firepower. Manager Carlos Mendoza’s team has been in and out of the lineup often lately, which means it’s crucial to capitalize on scoring opportunities.

The troubles at the plate became evident during their third consecutive series, with a 3-1 defeat to the Red Sox on Monday at Fenway Park. This loss marked their fourth in five games, leaving the Mets at a dismal 8-1 when it comes to runners scoring. To make matters worse, they’ve failed to score more than two runs in six straight games.

Juan Soto, who was 10-1 in the subway series last weekend, had just four plate appearances that night but ended up grounding into double plays that effectively ended a few early chances for the Mets.

Kodai Senga had a rocky beginning but managed to recover. He allowed three earned runs along with five strikeouts and three hits over three innings. This was the first time this season he had given up three runs in a start.

Senga quickly found himself in a 2-0 deficit. Jarren Duran kicked things off with a leadoff double on his first hit, followed by a walk for Rafael Devers. A groundout from Alex Bregman allowed one run to score, and Trevor Story added a two-out RBI single to push the lead further.

Then came Duran’s RBI triple, giving the Red Sox a 3-0 advantage. Carlos Narvaez walked before Duran’s hit, as he managed to smack a forkball into the right-field corner.

The Mets did claw back with a Tyrone Taylor RBI single, bringing it to 3-1 after Francisco Alvarez doubled. But, after a walk to Francisco Lindor, a double play off Soto’s bat ended that hope.

In the fourth inning, Pete Alonso nearly got something going for the Mets. He had a misstep when he tried to extend a single, flipping Senga’s grounder into the outfield. After Alonso’s efforts, Devers walked, loading the bases before Senga managed to retire Bregman.

It was a rough outing for Alonso; although he initially appeared safe after a hit to the Green Monster, the Red Sox successfully challenged the call, resulting in an out.

Soto did find success with a single, getting to second by swiping a base. However, after Alonso walked, Brandon Nimmo hit into a double play before Mark Vientos was retired.

The Mets posed a threatening situation in the seventh with two outs. Jeff McNeill walked, and Taylor’s single—which was aided by an error from right fielder Wilyer Abreu—put them in scoring position. But, after a pitching change, Lindor was retired on the first pitch he faced.