Juan Soto faced some boos after he mishandled a play on Wednesday, but more followed as he struggled at the plate, contributing to a recent offensive downturn for his team.
The star player, valued at $765 million, managed to avoid a no-hitter situation against the Mets, but only managed a solo home run in a 4-1 defeat to the Guardians, ending in a series sweep.
“I wasn’t thinking about no-hitters,” Soto explained post-game. “I was just focused on my swings, trying to maintain my approach since the first inning. I just got through it.”
Soto hasn’t been hitting well since the All-Star break.
The home run, which barely escaped the outstretched glove of Cleveland’s center fielder Angel Martinez, marked the Mets’ first hit since the fourth inning of a 3-2 loss to the Guardians the day before.
“It’s always tough. They’ve done a great job, especially the starters, so we couldn’t provide them with run support,” Soto noted. “It’s frustrating for both the offense and the starters, but we need to stay focused on our path.”
For the Mets, the need for improvement is pressing. They’ve lost eight out of their last nine games in Milwaukee as they approach a weekend series against the NL Central-leading Brewers.
“We have to improve. As a team, we need to push through this,” Soto remarked. “It’s not easy and it’s a challenge, but we must go out there and take it.”
“No one simply hands out the trophy; we have to earn it.”
Soto also caught boos in the sixth after mishandling a play that allowed a run-scoring triple by Gabriel Arias. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza supported Soto’s effort to chase the ball, saying it was acceptable.
“Yeah, it went over his head and bounced off him, so there was no issue there,” Mendoza stated.
When asked if Soto’s slow home run could act as a catalyst for a turn in the offense, Mendoza shared his thoughts.
