Mets end scoreless streak at 20 innings but fall to Atlanta
Mets starting pitcher David Peterson looks on from the dugout during an MLB baseball game against Atlanta at Citi Field on Sunday, July 28, 2024. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
On Friday evening, in front of a raucous Citi Field crowd, the Mets’ season reached an electric new peak.
The hitters were pummeling Atlanta. Kodai Senga was looking masterful in his long-awaited 2024 debut. The Mets were about to move past Atlanta into the top National League wild-card spot at a season-best seven games above .500.
But they’ve been a bit of a mess in the days since.
Lowlighting the Mets’ 9-2 loss to Atlanta on Sunday: a scoreless streak that stretched to 20 innings. They managed only a series split after taking the first two games.
After Senga’s regular season-ending calf strain, back-end starters Tylor Megill and David Peterson didn’t inspire confidence with mediocre outings over the weekend.
“There’s plenty of bright spots and plenty of moments to learn from,” Pete Alonso said. “Ultimately, I think we did a pretty decent job this weekend. Obviously, splitting a series, not great. Could’ve been better. But we definitely earned the two games that we won. We’re playing good baseball overall. And that’s a really good sign.”
The Mets have until the trade deadline at 6 p.m. Tuesday to make further external changes to the roster. They already have brought in three players: outfielder Jesse Winker plus relievers Phil Maton and Ryne Stanek.
“Adding and winning, that’s going to be a great combination coming down the stretch here,” Alonso said.
Alonso’s two-run home run — No. 21 on the year — with two outs in the eighth represented all of the Mets’ scoring in the finale. Those were their first runs since Senga hurt himself running off the mound to get out of the way of a pop-up in the sixth inning on Friday.
Alonso attributed the offensive drought to Atlanta pitchers being “excellent at executing all their pitches in pretty much all situations.”
“Everyone who grabbed the ball for them was pretty lights out,” he said. “They just didn’t come in the zone all that much. When they did, they did a great job picking corners. I mean, shoot, they did a hell of a job.”
Peterson’s start was a weird one. He was very good for the first three innings, was atrocious as he nearly failed to finish the fourth, then bounced back in the fifth. His final line: five innings, four hits, four runs.
That top of the fourth, though, was when the game turned. Peterson threw 40 pitches — and got the final two outs on just two pitches. Atlanta scored four runs, including three on Matt Olson’s home run into the upper deck in rightfield. Peterson was about one more baserunner away from getting pulled.
“He lost the strike zone. There were a lot of pitches that were balls out of his hand,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “They stopped swinging; they made some good adjustments there. But at the end of the day, he just lost the strike zone. He had a hard time getting ahead or just commanding his pitches.”
Peterson said: “Walked [Austin] Riley to start the inning, which is not ideal. [Marcell] Ozuna had that little bloop hit. And didn’t execute one pitch to Olson. That’s kind of what it came down to.”
Atlanta (56-48) blew it open against the Mets’ bullpen.
Making his Mets debut after coming over in a Friday trade with the Mariners, Stanek gave up three runs (two home runs) in one inning. The crowd of an announced 26,916 booed after the second homer — by Riley — and at the end of the frame.
“A little off after a few days of not pitching,” Mendoza said.
Stanek’s ERA has ballooned from 3.55 to 4.95 in his past four outings.
The Mets (55-50) had plenty of chances, especially early against righthander Reynaldo Lopez. He departed after three innings because of right forearm tightness, Atlanta announced.
The Mets had leadoff hits in four of the first five innings. That included three doubles (plus an additional one-out double). But they weren’t able to capitalize on any of those chances.
They came closest in the fifth, when Tyrone Taylor doubled and Ben Gamel singled. But Atlanta centerfielder Ramon Laureano — a product of Upper Room Christian Academy in Dix Hills — threw Taylor out at home.
“I froze and took a step back because it was a line drive, so I had to make sure it got through,” Taylor said. “Then I went for it. I was ready to go. But he made a good throw — good tag, too. I almost snuck in there. My hand was in the air or something.”
Notes & quotes: Harrison Bader (rolled right ankle) was available off the bench Sunday and is likely to return to the lineup Monday, Mendoza said. He has missed the last five games . . . Sean Reid-Foley (right shoulder impingement) gave up two runs, two hits and a walk in two-thirds of an inning for High-A Brooklyn. Mendoza said he will pitch in at least one more game in the minors before being activated from the injured list . . . Starling Marte (right knee bone bruise) has advanced to hitting on the field and running. He is not close to a return.
Tim Healey is the Mets beat writer for Newsday. Born on Long Island and raised in Connecticut, Tim has previously worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the Boston Globe and MLB.com. He is also the author of “Hometown Hardball,” a book about minor league baseball in the northeast.
