The Mets have one more win this season than last when they trailed after eight innings, but that’s not saying much.
Last year’s figure was 0-70 in such cases. It was 1-31 this season entering Saturday, and even with the Mets lineup front and center for the team’s final at-bat, that hasn’t changed.
Juan Soto had a leadoff double against Raisel Iglesias, but the Mets were left without a home run in a 3-1 loss to the Braves at Citi Field.
Soto’s single to left was initially ruled a homer, but it was changed to a double after a replay review ruled the ball was back in play over the left-field fence. Francisco Alvarez’s double ended the game, after Mark Vientos retired and Marcus Semien walked.
The Mets got a solid game from Sean Manaea, in his first start of the season. The left-hander, who has been used in various relief roles, pitched a season-high six innings and allowed two earned runs on four hits with six strikeouts. He threw 84 pitches.
Eli White’s RBI double in the second provided the game’s first run. Manaea allowed a leadoff single to Matt Olson before White’s shot (he took third on the throw) brought in a run. Manaea recovered to get the next two outs without scoring any more runs.
White cleared the left-field fence with a double in the fourth to extend the Mets’ deficit to 2-0. The homer was Manaea’s third in his last three games.
Mark Vientos hit an RBI single in the sixth that brought in the Mets’ first run. Bo Bichette doubled and Vientos was introduced after Juan Soto was retired by reliever Dylan Lee. Vientos snapped an 0-for-17 hitting skid.
The struggling Vientos started the day hitless in June by striking out six of 12 batters. Vientos’ 37.5 percent strikeout rate this season — which puts him in the 13th percentile in MLB — is a strong indicator of where he needs to improve.
MEts retail store
The New York Post receives revenue from affiliates and advertising by sharing this content and when you shop.
“I don’t think we are at a level where people need to cheer you up,” said Vientos before the game. “This is do or don’t do. I don’t think any kind of ‘get them,’ is going to fix anything. Either you do or you don’t.”
Austin Warren allowed a solo homer to Michael Harris II in the eighth that gave the Braves a 3-1 lead. It was the third straight appearance in which Warren allowed at least one run. The right-hander gave up a leadoff, two-run homer in San Diego in the Mets’ last outing and followed that up with a shaky inning (two earned runs allowed) against the Cardinals in the opener.
