Mets Offense Goes Ice-Cold After First-Inning Success

The Mets entered Citizens Bank Park on Thursday in desperate need of a spark. For a fleeting moment, it looked like they had one.

New York opened Thursday night with exactly the kind of inning they’ve been looking for. Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto wasted no time, starting with two singles against Phillies southpaw Jesús Luzardo. Both then stole bases, and suddenly the Mets had two runners in scoring position before an out was recorded. The middle of the order cashed them in: Mark Vientos singled to right to plate the first run, Brandon Nimmo followed with another RBI, and Starling Marte doubled in two more.

But then nothing.

The Mets’ offense put on a disappearing act over the final eight innings. They scored no runs and put zero baserunners on over that stretch. Luzardo retired the last 22 batters he faced, striking out 10 over eight innings. Closer Jhoan Duran then struck out the side in the ninth. After falling behind 4-0, the Phillies slowly worked their way back to win 6-4, pushing the Mets to 11 games out of first place in the NL East.

Their Wild Card lead, which was at five games just days ago, has now shrunk to 1 1/2, as the Mets have dropped six-straight contests.

The contrast was stark. In the opening frame, New York attacked early in counts and looked aggressive, yet disciplined. After that, Luzardo controlled every at-bat. His fastball command sharpened, he buried his breaking balls, and the Mets chased pitches they had laid off in the first. By the eighth, it wasn’t much of a competition anymore — Luzardo was simply mowing down a lineup that looked finished for the night.

Meanwhile, the Phillies kept their composure throughout. Harrison Bader doubled in the first but was stranded, and David Peterson carried a 4-0 cushion into the fourth. That’s when the cracks formed. With a runner on, Otto Kemp unloaded on a Peterson slider, sending it over the center field wall for a two-run shot. The crowd woke up with the Phillies’ newfound life, and the Mets’ margin for error evaporated.

Reed Garrett entered in the sixth and could not escape trouble. Nick Castellanos doubled, Kemp followed with another double to tie the game, and Harrison Bader singled in the go-ahead run. Bryce Harper added an RBI single to push the lead to 6-4 before Brooks Raley finally stopped the bleeding, though two inherited runners scored.

This wasn’t just a tough loss: it was a huge missed opportunity. The Mets had Luzardo, one of the league’s top left-handers, on the ropes in the first. They had traffic on the bases, big swings, and a chance to take control. Instead, they let him reset and dominate through the rest of the night.

For New York, this has become a pattern. Too often, they score early and then disappear completely, leaving the bullpen exposed. 13 strikeouts and zero walks in this one are glaring. There were no adjustments, no grinding of at-bats, no momentum whatsoever after the first. Nothing.

Jeff McNeil was asked about the potential concern that the Mets can’t hang onto their playoff spot.

“We’ve got a bunch of great guys in here. Right now we’re still in a playoff spot. It could be worse. Tough game tomorrow and we’ll be ready.”

Peterson pointed to the club’s mindset as a key factor.

“There’s two ways to go about it. You can come to the ballpark and feel bad for yourself and feel like it’s going to happen again. Or you can come back the next day with a fresh mindset and compete your butt off. And I believe we’ve done the latter.”

Still, he was clear about what’s required.

“We’ve got to play better. As simple as that. We’ve seen what this group can do. We’ve got 15 left and we’ve got to take care of business,” Peterson said.

Manager Carlos Mendoza didn’t shy away from taking accountability.

“I’m responsible. I’m the manager. It’s my job to get these guys going and I will.” But he also admitted the reality of the situation. “I’m not going to say that I’m worried, but we don’t have too much time. Teams are right behind us. The way you look at it is we’re still in control of the situation.”

The Mets’ hold on the final NL Wild Card spot is precarious. They now lead the Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants by just 1 1/2 games. With just over two weeks left in the regular season, every game carries extra weight, and the Mets will need to play solid baseball to maintain control of their own destiny.

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