Mets Flat Again in 5-2 Loss To Reds

If Saturday’s game with the Cincinnati Reds had just been the pre-game festivities featuring David Wright and the first two innings, where the New York Mets took a 2-0 lead, then this day would have been perfect for the Mets. It’s a nine-inning game, and the Mets, once again, didn’t show up as they dropped their third game in a row, 5-2 to the Reds. A mixture of bad infield defense and the offense, again, not hitting in big spots. The Mets have also now lost their first two games to begin the second half of the season.

Infield Defense Hurts Mets Pitching

While Clay Holmes wasn’t great by any stretch on Saturday, as he went 5 1/3 innings and three strikeouts, he wasn’t helped by his catcher. With first and second and nobody out, Luis Torrens threw the ball to first base after a bunt where Brett Baty was playing behind the bag because Pete Alonso was playing in, and the ball went by Baty. That error by Torrens resulted in a run for the Reds to trim the Mets lead to 2-1. The Reds would tie the game later with an RBI single. 

Later, Reed Garrett came on in relief of Holmes after the Reds took a 3-2 lead. Garrett got a ground ball from Tyler Stephenson, but Ronny Mauricio threw a ball wide to Brett Baty that only got a force out instead of a double play. Mauricio’s misplay gave the Reds another run. Two runs by the Reds because of bad infield defense.

1-For-10 With RISP For The Mets Offense

It’s July, approaching August, and the Mets continue to struggle with runners on base. New York got off to a good start with a Mark Vientos RBI single and then a home run by Brett Baty in the first and second innings. However, the Mets were shut out the rest of the way and went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position. The Mets had bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth inning, but Brandon Nimmo and Francisco Lindor had bad at-bats that left them still loaded. 

Then, in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Mets had first and second with nobody out. Lindor grounded into a force out, Juan Soto struck out on a questionable check swing call, and Alonso flew out. The Mets, once again, had plenty of opportunities to score more runs, but left too many points on the board.

Player of the Game: Brooks Raley

Raley made his return to the mound after rehabbing from Tommy John Surgery, and he pitched well in the seventh inning. He had two strikeouts in his inning of work, and his addition is a plus for the bullpen. 

On Deck:

The Mets will send David Peterson to the mound on Sunday against Andrew Abbot of the Reds. The game will be telecast on WPIX and broadcast on Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM at 1:40 pm EDT.

The post Mets Flat Again in 5-2 Loss To Reds appeared first on Metsmerized Online.