Mets shut out without Juan Soto as Marlins deliver fourth consecutive defeat

Mets Encounter Familiar Struggles in Miami

MIAMI – Sunday felt a bit like a flashback for the Mets, as their disappointing season seemed to echo the end of the previous one at Lorne Depot Park.

Sure, there’s still time left—four months, to be exact. But it’s tough to find any glimmer of hope for this struggling team, especially with tougher matchups looming in the next few weeks.

On Sunday, the Mets fell flat, losing 4-0 and snapping their three-game winning streak against the Marlins without their star hitter in the lineup.

Heriberto Hernandez’s walk-off grand slam off Devin Williams marked the Mets’ fourth consecutive loss, leaving them with a 2-5 record from their trip. Christopher Morrell’s lead-off double initiated the scoring against Williams, who saw his 10-game scoreless streak come to an end. After a sacrifice bunt moved a runner to third and an intentional walk loaded the bases, Hernandez powered the second pitch over the center field fence.

Juan Soto, sidelined due to illness, has been a significant loss for the team. Coach Carlos Mendoza has mentioned that this illness seems to be affecting several players in the clubhouse.

The absence of Soto, who has hit six home runs and boasts a staggering 1.342 OPS in his last ten games, shifted MJ Melendez into the spotlight, filling the gap in the lineup.

On the bright side, Christian Scott delivered his best pitching performance this season, allowing just four hits and two walks over 5 2/3 innings. He finished the game scoreless while recording five strikeouts, after Jacob Marzeh’s double in the sixth.

In a tense third inning with the bases loaded, Scott faced some challenges, allowing a single to Javier Sanoja, walking two batters, but managed to strike out Owen Casey and retire Kyle Stowers to escape the inning.

Scott continued to showcase his skills, striking out Morrell in the fourth. Despite Connor Norby getting hit by a pitch, he navigated through to avoid any significant danger.

Despite multiple runner opportunities in the second, fourth, and fifth innings, the Mets were unable to convert those chances into runs. In the second, Hayden Saenger issued a two-out walk to Tyrone Taylor before being pulled for the final out. Marcus Semien capitalized on an error by Sanoja to get things rolling.

In the fourth, Brett Batty got on base with a single, and Melendez walked, but that was quickly followed by a final out with Taylor. The fifth brought back-to-back singles from Bo Bichette and AJ Ewing, which ultimately led to Vientos being the last out once again.

In the sixth inning, Batty walked to start the inning, but a double play quickly followed, putting Melendez on base after he was hit by a pitch, only for Taylor to go down without scoring.

In the seventh, Carson Benge walked and attempted to steal second but found himself stranded on third after Ewing struck out to end the frame.

Facing Brooks Lally, Ewing made a defensive highlight by catching Sanoja at the plate, who was trying to score from second base on Edwards’ single. Casey then hit an infield single to load the bases for the Marlins before Reilly retired Stowers to escape the inning.