If Friday’s victory and postgame concert had an unmistakable nightclub atmosphere, the Mets’ afternoon concert is shaping up to be more like a summer block party.
But the rally and the good times were at least temporarily interrupted when the Mets lost a five-run lead and a chance to clinch the third wild-card spot in the National League with a 9-6 loss to the Astros.
The score was 6-1 at the start of the game, but relief pitchers Jake Diekman and Reid Garrett, who were handed a 6-4 lead in the eighth inning, combined to issue four walks and allow three runs, including a two-run game-winning single to right field by Alex Bregman with two outs.
It was the Mets’ fifth loss in their last 21 games and one more win would have put them past the Cardinals and into the playoffs.
That brings their record to 40-40 as the series finale on Sunday marks the midway point of the 81-game regular season.
Mets owner Steve Cohen noted the team’s recent success, posting on X before the game, “Something special is happening at Citi Field.”
“The players are united and playing for each other, the atmosphere is great,” he added. “Let’s keep it going!”
In late May, with the Mets in the midst of a teetering 24-35 start, Cohen posted on X about the “mind-boggling” and “disheartening” situation that threatened to derail the team’s season less than two months into it.
Team president David Stearns even acknowledged Friday that the team envisions adding players before the July 30 trade deadline after what was previously expected to be a second consecutive summer sale.
“We gave ourselves a chance and we’ve got to continue to take advantage of that opportunity,” Stearns said before the series began. “I think Steve has repeatedly shown that he’s committed to investing in this team with the resources we need to compete, and we certainly will continue to do that.”
Cohen fully expected his team to be competitive this season, but the Mets initially struggled to overcome an injury to retained starting pitcher Kodai Senga and poor performances from several regulars and returning closer Edwin Diaz.
On May 24, in the middle of an ugly losing streak against the Giants, Cohen expressed his disappointment on social media.
“This is so far-fetched I can’t believe it,” Cohen tweeted. “I know how disappointing this is for your fans.” [Thank you] Thank you so much for caring so much.”
Mets fans have clearly embraced their team’s resurgence in recent weeks, as well as the fact that McDonald’s mascot Grimmus threw out the ceremonial first pitch earlier this month and that veteran infielder Jose Iglesias, aka Candelita, sang the aptly titled “OMG” on the field after Friday’s win.
Over the past 30 days through Friday, the Mets led the nation in batting average (.294), on-base percentage (.367), slugging percentage (.526) and OPS (.893) and were second only to the Orioles in home runs and runs scored.
Houston scored its first run Saturday against starter Tyler Megill on a one-out solo home run in the second inning by Jake Myers.
But the Mets rallied for five runs in the bottom of the inning against two-time All-Star left-hander Framber Valdez, on hits by Iglesias, Harrison Bader and Brandon Nimmo and a two-run single by Pete Alonso.
Mark Vientos hit his fifth home run in eight games in the bottom of the first inning to extend the lead to 6-1, but the Astros scored three runs against Megill in the fourth inning, including a two-run double by Jeremy Peña.
Megill struck out Yainer Diaz and Myers with two runners on base and took a 6-4 lead into the fifth inning.
But Diekman walked the first two batters in the eighth inning, and Garrett walked Trey Cabage to load the bases after the umpire lost track of the count.
A wild pitch scored a run, Jose Altuve walked, and then Bregman singled with the count full to give the Mets a 7-6 lead from which they never recovered.
Mauricio Dubon hit a two-run double off Danny Young in the ninth inning.
