Mets’ Rollercoaster Performance Continues
Once more, the Mets have shown their unpredictable nature. Last week, they demonstrated dominance by sweeping the top-ranked Phillies, creating optimism for a potential NL East title. However, over the weekend, they stumbled against a team with far fewer resources, dropping the series to non-contenders.
The same lineup that set a franchise record by scoring 19 runs just days ago managed to scrape together only a single score on Sunday. It was surprising, to say the least.
Kodai Senga faced struggles as he allowed four runs and was booed by the crowd. In an underwhelming performance, the Mets fell 5-1 to the Marlins in front of 43,302 fans at Citi Field.
Despite a month where the Mets set a franchise record for home runs and boasted the highest runs-per-game average in the majors, they still managed to finish with a disappointing 11-17 record during that stretch. This inconsistency is perplexing. The Mets currently sit at 73-64, battling for one of the final NL wildcard spots but showcasing a blend of brilliance and disarray throughout the season.
Senga, a prime example of this volatility, pitched six innings but let in five runs along with two walks and seven hits. Previously, he had an impressive ERA of 1.47 through his first dozen starts. But after a hamstring injury sidelined him, his performance dipped significantly, now sitting at 5.91 ERA over the last nine starts.
The game began poorly for the Mets, with a walk and some early hits putting them in a hole they couldn’t climb out of. A two-run homer by Agustin Ramirez and additional runs from Liam Hicks compounded their troubles. Senga, unable to complete six innings once again, represented a low for the team that afternoon.
Defensive mishaps also contributed to the Mets’ fate. An attempted play on a drag bunt from Xavier Edwards caused confusion, and poor timing from Jeff McNeill resulted in a missed opportunity.
Meanwhile, emotions flared when Sandy Alcantara hit Mark Vientos with a pitch, sparking a brief but heated standoff between the benches. It seemed to energize the Mets, who managed to score a single run afterward, but it wasn’t enough to change the outcome.
Alcantara displayed the skills that made him a target for trade, shutting down the Mets with only four hits allowed over seven innings. The team struggled to capitalize on rare chances against the hard-throwing righty.
In a missed opportunity, McNeil and Vientos couldn’t bring home runs when they had chances. Francisco Lindor reached base twice, and Soto nearly knocked one out of the park, only to be met by a leaping catch from Joey Wimmer at the wall. Even though Soto got to third and another player walked, Alonso’s groundout ended their hopes for a rally.
