Mets Lose to Mariners, Dropping First Series of 2022

The Mets had not misplaced a sequence all season, however that streak sailed when the Seattle Mariners closed out a teeter-totter affair Sunday.

Seattle outslugged New York within the rubber match of a three-game set at Citi Subject, successful, 8-7. The Mets had a number of probabilities to maintain their streak alive, as a mammoth residence run from Francisco Lindor gave New York a 1-0 edge within the first inning. J.D. Davis and Brandon Nimmo every plated two with triples within the fourth, and a close to ninth-inning comeback had the Queens crowd in a frenzy. However Pete Alonso went a smidgen too far on a two-out, two-strike checked-swing try towards the Mariners’ right-handed reliever Diego Castillo, and the sport ended with the bases loaded.

“Typically, although it stinks, you simply need to tip your cap,” Alonso stated after the sport. “He executed extraordinarily effectively, and he beat me. Easy as that.”

Seattle, in the meantime, bought the perfect of the right-hander Carlos Carrasco, who struggled to manage his slider. He lasted 4 and one-third innings and allowed eight hits, 4 earned runs and one stroll. He struck out two.

Whereas Carrasco finally departed with a 5-4 lead, the Mariners’ Mike Ford tagged him for a two-run single within the fourth. Julio Rodríguez, a rookie sensation, then hit a game-tying solo shot off the left-hander Chasen Shreve (1-1) within the sixth inning. Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh proceeded to take the right-hander Drew Smith deep, crushing a two-run, 435-foot shot to proper discipline to make it 7-5. The Mariners tacked on their remaining, decisive run within the seventh when Jesse Winker, a longtime nuisance to the Mets and their followers, doubled. Rodríguez singled him residence.

“That’s a great group over there. I’m shocked by their file as a result of they fought us actually, rather well this weekend,” Nimmo stated of the 16-19 Mariners. “They hit rather well.”

Seattle additionally gained the sequence opener Friday, 2-1. The Mariners starter Marco Gonzales and the Mets ace Max Scherzer every restricted the opposition. Saturday’s recreation was extra of a preview of the offense to come back within the finale, as catcher Patrick Mazeika, known as up Friday to switch the injured James McCann, helped the Mets to a 5-4 win by belting a go-ahead solo homer within the backside of the seventh. That got here after Winker hit a game-tying, three-run homer within the prime of the seventh — and agitated Mets followers by waving to the group as he crossed the plate after a gradual trot across the bases.

“I don’t actually give it a lot thought a technique or one other,” Mets Supervisor Buck Showalter stated of Winker’s wave. “Simply attempting to get him out. A very long time in the past, I realized when issues occur on the sphere, I type of look down within the dugout and see if it’s necessary to our guys. If it’s necessary to them, it’s necessary to me. I’m not going to go, ‘Hey you need to be upset at that’ or one thing.”

The Mets, who had beforehand carried out no worse than splitting a four-game sequence with Atlanta from Could 2 to 4, are actually 23-13. They continue to be comfortably in first place within the Nationwide League East after their first sequence lack of the season. They went their first 10 sequence with out arising quick.

The file for consecutive sequence to open a season with out dropping one is 21, set by the 1946 Boston Pink Sox, per MLB.com’s Sarah Langs, through Elias Sports activities. Whereas the Mets have been removed from sniffing that complete, they actually took pleasure of their streak.

“We’ve been taking part in extraordinarily good baseball,” Alonso stated. “That’s one thing actually to be pleased with. We’ve had an incredible begin. We’ve bought to do no matter we will to maintain taking part in effectively. It’s been a really enjoyable season up to now. We bought to get again on the horse tomorrow.”

Joking, Nimmo stated: “It’s unlucky to lose the primary sequence of the yr, however it was most likely going to occur in some unspecified time in the future. Obtained it out of the best way and now we will transfer ahead. You get used to successful. You are available in, you flip the music on, you dance. That’s simply what you do while you win extra video games than you lose. You positively can take it with no consideration.”

Showalter discovered pleasure within the streak as effectively. Like his gamers, nonetheless, he highlighted his group’s want to maneuver on. He is aware of that any season, even a profitable one, is full of streaks, good and unhealthy.

He doesn’t need the Mets to lose sight of that as they put together for a brand new sequence.

“Even I can do the maths of what that may imply,” Showalter, referring to the standings, stated when requested if he took satisfaction within the streak. “However we’re on the brink of play the St. Louis Cardinals for 4 video games. Successful three video games is difficult. So I feel it actually places it in perspective, how arduous it’s.”

New York’s sequence towards the Cardinals, which begins Monday in Queens, shall be one to regulate. The 2 groups took exception to some hit batsmen and high-and-tight choices after they squared off in St. Louis from April 25 to 27. Benches cleared within the remaining recreation of that sequence when Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado turned enraged at an up-and-in pitch from reliever Yoan López.

Alonso was amongst these hit within the sequence, taking one to the helmet, and the Mets, the main league leaders in hit batsmen, had beforehand expressed concern over the speed at which they have been getting plunked.

“I’ll allow them to deal with their gamers,” Showalter stated on the time when requested about Arenado’s response. “I do know our participant bought hit within the head and went to first base.”