Fans at Citi Field might have felt uplifted after a ceremony honoring David Wright before the game. Yet, that positive atmosphere quickly faded as they witnessed a disappointing 5-2 loss against the Reds, culminating in a chorus of boos during the final inning.
This loss included moments that felt all too familiar, specifically a misplayed double play. It was almost predictable when Tyler Stevenson connected with the ball; you could sense it was heading toward trouble.
Reed Garrett took over for Clay Holmes but inherited a tough situation with runners on first and third. Surprisingly, he nearly escaped it after just one pitch.
After receiving a 73 mph grounder at third, Ronnie Mauricio’s throw ended up pulling Brett Batty off the bag, turning what could’ve been an inning-ending double play into just a fielder’s choice.
One player, Jake Fraley, managed to double, bringing in Stevenson. Mauricio’s mistake ultimately cost the Mets—allowing two more runs during a lackluster offensive showing.
Coach Carlos Mendoza commented, “Maybe they were rushing it a bit, especially from home, understanding the situation with the runner. We didn’t slow it down enough.”
Mauricio, despite going 4-for-4 with two strikeouts, faced the crowd’s displeasure. After Jeff McNeill’s error, Mauricio had a chance to keep the rally alive but quickly hit the first pitch back to center, leading to a double play.
He also had an earlier chance to load the bases in the first inning, which could have helped the Mets gain an early lead following Mark Vientos’ RBI single. Instead, he grounded out to second, adding to a challenging stretch since returning from an ACL injury in 2024.
Though there have been flashes of his potential, like his four home runs, there are reminders of his struggles—boasting a .096 average and a .279 OPS with runners on base.
