Mets Fall Short of Comeback, Lose 7-6 to Guardians
The Mets dropped the series against the Guardians at Progressive Field with a hard-fought 7-6 loss on Tuesday evening. The Mets trailed throughout the entirety of the game but rallied multiple times, bringing the score within one run on three separate occasions.
Despite knocking 11 hits and three key home runs, they ultimately couldn’t clinch the win. New York fell to six games under .500 for the first time this season and have now lost 19 of their last 28 games. Notably, the team has struggled on the road in interleague play, dropping 14 of their last 15 games.
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Adrian Houser started for the Mets and had a rough outing in his return to the rotation, allowing six runs on six hits over five innings. He issued one walk and struck out four, taking the loss and dropping to 0-4 with a 7.88 ERA this season. The Mets have worked him back into the rotation as they look to get back to full strength as David Peterson and Kodai Senga continue their rehabs.
Cleveland struck first with a three-run third inning. After Houser hit Bo Naylor with a pitch, Brayan Rocchio doubled to bring him home. Tyler Freeman and José Ramírez followed with RBI doubles, making it 3-0, Guardians.
The Mets responded in the fifth with a one-out solo homer from Mark Vientos for his second of the year. Jeff McNeil doubled, and base hits from Tomás Nido and Francisco Lindor cut Cleveland’s lead to 3-2.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Guardians extended their lead to 5-2. Tyler Freeman walked, setting up a two-run home run by Ramírez.
The Mets countered in the sixth with two runs of their own to make it 5-4. Vientos doubled, and McNeil followed with a two-run blast, his second of the season and first since April 5.
Jake Diekman took over for Adrian Houser in the sixth inning after Houser allowed a leadoff single to Will Brennan. The reliever subsequently gave up a two-run home run to his first batter faced, David Fry. The first run was credited to Houser. Diekman then recorded two strikeouts and a walk before being replaced by Jorge López, who ended the inning with a pick-off at second base.
Lopez tossed a 1-2-3 seventh inning and added a strikeout.
The Mets continued to fight back in the eighth. DJ Stewart was hit by a pitch, and Starling Marte smashed his fifth home run of the year, narrowing the gap to 7-6.
Sean Reid-Foley pitched a scoreless eighth inning, issuing one walk and striking out one. Down by one run in the ninth, the Mets faced Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase, and he shut them down yet again. Lindor singled with one out, but Pete Alonso grounded into a double play, ending the game.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Mark Vientos earns Tuesday’s honor with 2-for-4 appearance at the plate, with a double, home run, and two RBI. He started against a right-handed pitcher after Brett Baty had been getting all the at-bats in a platoon.
ON DECK
Jose Quintana (1-4, 5.21) will take the mound for New York on Wednesday afternoon as the Mets look to avoid the sweep in the final contest of the three-game set. Cleveland’s starter will be Triston McKenzie (2-3, 3.23). SNY will air the game at 1:10 p.m.
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