Just when Mets fans thought it couldn’t get any worse, the Mets went on a miserable road trip that ended in perhaps their worst loss of the season by stinking Citi Field in a 2- 1 against the Brewers on Monday night.
They have lost their fifth in their last six games – and 16th of 21 – as the season that started with huge expectations continues to spin out of control.
On Monday, Justin Verlander pitched five scoreless innings but needed 100 pitches to get there and had to be substituted to start the sixth.
Drew Smith, who just came off a 10-game ban for violating the league’s sticky substance policy, came in with a one-run lead and allowed a two-run homer to Joey Wiemer to give the advantage in Milwaukee.
But as Buck Showalter said before the game, it’s impossible to pinpoint one area where the team is lacking.
This time the offense was weak against right-hander Colin Rea, scoring just one run – which was helped by an error from receiver William Contreras.
New York Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil reacts after blowing away in the 7th inning.Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
Justin Verlander reacts during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers.PA
Verlander was shaky at the top of the first, loading the bases with one out – but got away with it without allowing a run.
After Christian Yelich started the game with a hard-hit single, Rowdy Tellez snatched a double with one out to the wall to the right.
Verlander walked Willy Adames before Owen Miller hit a dribbler that turned into home strength and Jesse Winker pulled out to end the threat.
Verlander gave back-to-back hits with one out in fourth, but with Luis Urias in second, Francisco Alvarez caught Blake Perkins at first base and picked him out for the second out and Wiemer jumped too short to keep him scoreless.
Rea struck out the first eight batters he faced before Brett Baty scored with two out in the third.
Joey Wiemer rounds the bases on his two-run homer in the sixth inning. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
They didn’t get their first hit against Rea, who had allowed nine runs – eight earned – in 10 ¹/₃ innings in his two previous starts, until Starling Marte hit a single to start the bottom of the fourth.
Marte swept second and went third when Contreras’ throw went to the center.
Wiemer, center, threw wildly at third and Marte went home, but cleverly turned around.
He scored on Francisco Lindor’s sacrifice fly for the first inning of the game.
Relief pitcher Adam Ottavino throws a pitch in the 7th inning. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
Willy Adames and Christian Yelich celebrate after the Brewers beat the Mets 2-1.
Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
Verlander again flirted with danger in the fifth, giving up a single to Yelich then hitting Contreras, but he retired the next three, as Milwaukee struggled with runners in scoring position, going 0 for 11.
The Mets couldn’t get to three Milwaukee relievers.
They will struggle to recover on Tuesday, when the Mets face Julio Teheran.
The right-hander resurrected his career and enjoyed considerable success against the Mets, with a 2.98 ERA in 29 games and a career 2.40 ERA in 14 starts at Citi Field.
2023-06-27 03:16:46
#Spiraling #Mets #struggle #loss #Brewers
