The New York Mets are experiencing a tumultuous period as the team struggles to find offensive consistency, reflected painfully in their recent performance. Late Monday night, they faced yet another defeat, this time a narrow 3-2 loss against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field. This marked their ninth loss in ten games and their fourth consecutive defeat to the Braves in just eight days.
Despite a previous burst of life during a game where they hit seven home runs, the Mets’ offense seems to have fallen silent once again. In the last nine games since June 13, the team has scored two runs or fewer six times, creating a sense of urgency and frustration among players and fans alike. Juan Soto expressed this sentiment, stating that the team is struggling to perform in critical moments.
Spencer Schwellenbach, the Braves’ pitcher, delivered another strong showing, shutting down the Mets effectively for seven innings. Soto managed to score on a two-run homer, which was the only significant contribution in an otherwise quiet outing for the Mets’ lineup.
Manager Carlos Mendoza pointed out the struggles of the bottom lineup, acknowledging that without contributions from those players, the team has difficulty scoring. He mentioned that falling behind early in games complicates hitting approaches, noting that it disrupts the momentum the team needs to create scoring opportunities.
Paul Blackburn, in his third start of the season, faced challenges on the mound, allowing three earned runs over only 4 ⅔ innings. The Mets’ pitching has also been inconsistent, with starters like Blackburn and David Peterson not able to complete five innings in their recent outings.
While this stretch has been discouraging for the Mets, there were positive notes, including Soto’s continuing offensive prowess as he hits a home run in three straight games. Fans can only hope the team finds a way to rally, refocus, and break this troubling trend as they push towards the playoffs. Such resilience might be the spark needed to reignite their season’s ambitions.