Just when it seemed like the Mets could quiet the concerns surrounding their manager, their general manager, and the players in the clubhouse during a challenging season edging closer to the trade deadline, they found a way to falter again. The offense finally seemed to address the recent defensive blunders, yet it still wasn’t enough to secure a win.
This time, less than a day after the Mets and Cubs initiated a trade that could define the summer, a former Mets prospect reminded everyone of the ongoing struggles for the team. Pete Crow-Armstrong, traded to Chicago in the Javier Báez deal back in 2021, hit a game-winning double in the 10th inning against the Mets. Despite efforts from Eric Wagaman, Brett Batty, and Carson Benge, they couldn’t capitalize and bring Ronnie Mauricio back around to score. Thus, the Mets faced their sixth consecutive loss, edging closer to a decision about selling players at the deadline.
“That’s the reality,” Carlos Mendoza acknowledged when asked about the current situation following David Peterson’s trade to Chicago. “Especially if we start playing better. We need to be honest, but we can’t dwell too much on what-ifs. Our focus should be on what we need to do now.”
On this occasion, the Mets (34-47) managed to rally after errors from Mauricio—some fans even thought Vientos was to blame—which allowed the Cubs to establish a three-run lead. Wagaman first connected with a fastball, sending it over the left-field fence, followed by Jared Young who hit a curveball out over the right-field wall.
Thursday was starting to appear as a disastrous sequel for the Mets, especially after committing six errors. Vientos mishandled Mauricio’s throw, giving the Cubs an additional point. In response, frustrated fans at Citi Field resumed their “Pete Alonso” chants from the previous evening. The team seemed inclined to blame Vientos for letting Dansby Swanson reach base rather than Mauricio, who was making his first appearance since early May. Swanson proceeded to advance to second before former Met Michael Conforto drove him in with a single.
With one out left, the Mets’ defense faltered once more. Alex Bregman’s hit towards right field was misjudged by Benji, leading to another score for Conforto. Bregman made it to third base, and then Ian Happ’s single sealed another run for the Cubs. By the end of that inning, Freddy Peralta, who had been pitching well, found himself charged with three earned runs.
“It’s just the routine plays that are costing us,” Mendoza stated. “At this level, those plays should be made. It’s true that things aren’t perfect, but we should at least be able to handle the routine ones.”
Yet, the Mets had opportunities. They loaded the bases in the third inning, only for Vientos to foul out. Again, in the following inning, they placed runners on first and second, but Mauricio’s double brought things to a halt until Batty grounded out. The bases filled once more in the sixth after Wagaman’s big hit, but Juan Soto also ended up grounding out.
Peralta had previously rebounded from a rough outing, pitching five innings before the defense faltered in the latter sections. He recorded five strikeouts, one walk, and allowed five hits in a performance that might enhance his trade value by the end of July.
“Everyone’s feeling the pressure,” Wagaman remarked. “Our record speaks for itself. We can’t turn everything around in a day. It’s about building on small victories and taking it one day at a time.”
But then, Crow-Armstrong’s hit delivered another blow to his former squad. The recent Peterson trade signifies that time may be running out for the Mets’ current roster.
