Mets' winning streak snapped at five games as Rockies hit six home runs to avoid sweep
Francisco Alvarez #4 of the New York Mets lines out to center field to end the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Citi Field on Sunday, July 14, 2024 in the Queens borough of New York City. Credit: Jim McIsaac
For a moment, as Francisco Alvarez’s rocket whipped through the thick Flushing air, it seemed as if the Mets had conjured more magic — somehow, some way mounting another improbable comeback, the type that of late has felt inevitable.
It was the bottom of the eighth in an 8-5 loss to the Rockies on Sunday afternoon. Alvarez represented the potential tying run in an inning that began with the Mets down by five. A fastball from rookie righthander Victor Vodnik came in at 99.5 mph. Alvarez sent it back even harder.
At Citi Field, the wall in right-center is marked as 380 feet from the plate. MLB’s movement-tracking technology determined that Alvarez’s line drive, had it been allowed to fly unimpeded, would have traveled 391 feet.
But it did not. Centerfielder Brenton Doyle backtracked, ranged to his left and threw up his glove, making it all look routine.
Alvarez was out. The scoring threat was over. The announced crowd of 24,970 let out a collective sigh. The Mets pretty much did the same.
They fell just short of one last highlight before the All-Star break.
“I missed it a little bit,” Alvarez said.
Pete Alonso added: “That’s baseball sometimes. He put a great swing [on it] in a big spot, but sometimes it doesn’t happen.”
And manager Carlos Mendoza: “We had a good feeling. It says a lot about the team and the offense that we got down like that and I never thought we were out of the game.’’
The Mets settled for an extremely good homestand (5-1) instead of a perfect one against the Nationals and Rockies. They brought the would-be tying run to the plate again in the ninth, but Tyrone Taylor and pinch hitter J.D. Martinez struck out against Vodnik to end it.
As they go their separate ways for a few days, not coming together again until Friday in Miami, the Mets own a 49-46 record. They sit in the third and last National League wild-card spot.
That is why, missed opportunity in this finale aside, they feel awfully good about themselves. The Mets’ second half will matter because they saved their season in the first half after early deep struggles.
“The vibes are great right now,” Alonso said before heading to Texas for All-Star festivities. “I’m really, really pleased with how everyone has stuck together. We were not in the best spot.”
Alvarez said: “I love how we feel like a team.”
Mendoza sort of laughed as he described the season as “interesting.”
“We went through a lot,” he said. “But the guys continue to battle, continue to show up and continue to believe in themselves. I’m very proud of them. We’re in a better position now, but understanding that we still got ways to go.”
The difference Sunday: Colorado (34-63) hit six home runs, including three solo shots by first baseman Michael Toglia. Ezequiel Tovar hit a pair of two-run homers.
Lefthander Jose Quintana offered his first dud of a start in a while, allowing five runs in 5 2⁄3 innings. Of the six hits he gave up, four were homers (and one was a double).
Quintana had a 0.89 ERA in the previous month (five starts).
Rockies righthander German Marquez made his first start since April 2023. The fully recovered Tommy John surgery patient lasted four innings, allowing three runs, including two on Alonso’s 19th homer in the fourth.
Marquez’s three strikeouts upped his career total to 986, passing Jorge De La Rosa (985) for most in Rockies history.
The starters’ mediocrity set up the Mets’ late dramatics, which weren’t quite dramatic enough. But now they have four days off.
“It’s not the best we can do. We have way more than that,” Alvarez said of the first half. “Overall, I feel like we’re going to make the playoffs and we’re going to be good in the playoffs.”
Notes & quotes: In potentially his final rehab outing, Kodai Senga (right shoulder strain) threw 66 pitches in 4 2⁄3 innings for Triple-A Syracuse. He allowed one run and two hits and struck out three. The Mets will wait to see how he feels during the next couple of days before deciding where he’ll make his next start, in the minors or majors . . . Starling Marte’s recovery from a right knee bone bruise is “slow still,” Mendoza said. He’s still feeling pain, so he’s not doing any baseball activity. “We’re not sure when he’ll be back,” Mendoza said . . . The Mets sent reliever Eric Orze back to Syracuse after the game. David Peterson will return from paternity leave after the break.
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.
