Alex Carrillo Allows Three Homers in Mets’ Loss to Reds

Alex Carrillo, a 28-year-old rookie making his third career appearance, was touched up for three home runs Friday as the Mets dropped their second-half opener 8-4 to the Cincinnati Reds at Citi Field.

Carrillo (0-1) got the first two batters he faced when he entered in the fifth inning with the Mets up 2-1, but then hit TJ Friedl on the foot before Matt McLain launched a two-run shot to give the Reds (51-47) the lead. Austin Hays homered to lead off the sixth and Tyler Stephenson added a two-run blast later in the inning. (Box Score)

Carrillo gave up five runs in 1 1/3 innings, walked two and threw a wild pitch. He’s allowed at least one run in each of his MLB outings since being called up from Triple-A Syracuse on July 8.

Sean Manaea was solid in his first start of the season, allowing just one hit, a Hays solo homer (he hit two on the night) – but went only four innings. He struck out six, walked two and hit a batter.

Manaea was pitching in back-to-back games, having made his season debut at Kansas City in relief in the final game before the All-Star break. Per SNY, the only other time a Met threw the last pitch of the first half and the first pitch of the second half was Jerry Koosman in 1968.

Juan Soto hit a 412-foot solo home run to right in the first inning, his team-leading 24th of the year. Fun fact: the last time Soto didn’t make the All-Star team (2019), his team won the World Series. The Mets (55-43) took a 2-0 lead in the second when Jeff McNeil singled home Brandon Nimmo, who had walked and stole his 11th base in 12 attempts.

Brandon Waddell (3 2/3 innings) gave up runs on an Elly De La Cruz RBI single in the seventh and a bases-loaded walk to Hays in the eighth. Like Manaea and Carrillo, he hit Friedl with a pitch. He tied an MLB record by getting hit by a pitch three times in a game.

Nick Lodolo (7-6) held New York to two runs on four hits and struck out seven over seven innings.

With two outs and nobody on in the ninth, Nimmo doubled, Ronny Mauricio hit a line drive to right that Connor Joe dropped for an error and McNeil walked. Reds manager Terry Francona brought in closer Emilio Pagán to protect the five-run lead. Pinch-hitter Brett Baty reached on an infield hit to load the bases, and a Luis Torrens RBI single made it 8-4 and brought Francisco Lindor up as the tying run. Lindor popped out on a 3-2 count to end the game.

SNY interviewed Mets first-round draft pick Mitch Voit. The University of Michigan second baseman was taken with the No. 38 overall pick. The last player the Mets took in that slot was David Wright.

Stat of the Game

Nimmo’s steal was the 16th consecutive for the Mets, who lead MLB in stolen base percentage (75-for-85, 88 percent). New York are tied for the 11th-most steals in MLB.

Player of the Game

Manaea threw 42 of 69 pitches for strikes in his first start at Citi Field since earning the win in Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.

On Deck

David Wright Day! The Mets will open parking lots at 1:10 p.m. ET, gates at 2:10 and urge fans to be seated at 3:15 for the No. 5 retirement ceremony. Clay Holmes (8-4, 3.31 ERA) faces RHP Nick Martinez (7-9, 4.78 ERA). First pitch is at 4:10 p.m. and it will be on SNY and MLB Network.

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