Mets Struggle Continues with Another Loss

The Mets just can’t seem to catch a break. Throughout the season, they’ve been battling to score runs, and aside from a brief Mardi Gras celebration on Saturday, it’s been pretty grim lately.

So, is there anyone home?

Monday night was yet another disappointing outing for the Mets, who fell 3-2 to the Braves at Citi Field. This marked their ninth loss in ten games and the fourth consecutive defeat against the Braves in just over a week.

Since the date turned to Friday the 13th, the Mets have struggled, scoring less than two runs in six games and facing nine losses.

Spencer Schwenbach had the Mets’ number again during his second start, going seven innings with the only damage coming from Juan Soto’s two-run homer. Soto had a chance to tie things up in the eighth inning, with a runner on third and another on first, but he ended up striking out against left-handed reliever Dylan Lee, who retired the side in order during the ninth.

In his third start of the season, Paul Blackburn conceded three runs over six hits, alongside four strikeouts and three walks. Unfortunately, this was the second game in a row where Blackburn didn’t make it through five innings. In the game prior, David Peterson also struggled, managing only four innings.

Blackburn aided the Braves by hitting Ozzy Albies, who helped put the Braves on the board first. Albies stole second, moved to third on Sean Murphy’s single, and then scored thanks to a sacrifice fly by Michael Harris II. Ronald Acuña Jr. added to the lead with a home run to center field, which marked the second home run allowed by Blackburn this season.

After Matt Olson doubled and moved to third on a wild pitch, Murphy’s sacrifice fly gave the Braves a 3-0 cushion.

Despite Brett Batty and Francisco Lindor each getting two hits, it wasn’t enough as Schwenbach managed to retire the side.

In the sixth inning, Soto’s third homer in three games brought the Mets closer at 3-2. After Brandon Nimmo walked with two outs, Soto launched a 1-1 sinker over the left-center fence for his 17th home run of the season. Notably, he’d hit two of the Mets’ seven home runs in Philadelphia just the day before.

Batty started off the next inning with a single, but after Nimmo walked, Lindor’s grounder resulted in a quick 3-6 double play. Later, in the eighth, both Lindor and Nimmo managed to reach base against Raisel Iglesias before Lee was called upon to face Soto.