Holding a 4-3 lead over the Atlanta Braves after seven innings, it looked like the New York Mets might snap their losing skid. Instead, familiar problems resurfaced and the losing streak now stands at seven.
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of their 1969 championship team, the New York Mets are just trying to get one win in front of their home fans.
After falling 6-2 on Friday, it looked like that win might come on Saturday.
Steven Matz got the start for the club but lasted only two innings thanks to an hour-plus long rain delay.
In his two innings, the lefty allowed two runs on three hits.
Ronald Acuna and Dansby Swanson led off the game with back-to-back singles. Josh Donaldson was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. Ozzie Albies then knocked both of them in with a two-run single.
With the top of the Braves order leading off the third, Chris Mazza ran into some trouble. Making his Major League debut, Mazza gave up an RBI double to Swanson to extend the Atlanta lead to 3-0.
All told, it was a solid debut for the 29-year-old right-hander. He allowed some hard contact, but surrendered just one run in four innings of work.
The Mets would put their first tally on the board in the home half of the third. Getting another start in left field, Dominic Smith hit his eighth home run of the season.
The club would pull another run closer in the fourth. Amed Rosario scored on a Jeff McNeil double to center to cut the lead to one run.
The same two guys would do it again for New York in the sixth. Rosario led off the frame with a single. Two batters later, McNeil hit his second double of the day to knot the game at three.
McNeil would come around to score on a Robinson Cano single to give the team their first lead of the day, 4-3.
Seth Lugo came in the seventh and, despite a Swanson double, worked a clean inning.
The bullpen woes would show up in the eighth. With Lugo still on the mound, Met-killer Nick Markakis tied the game with a home run to left center. The very next batter, Austin Riley, homered to nearly the same spot. Just like that, Atlanta led 5-4.
The Mets put the first two guys on in the ninth against closer Luke Jackson, but couldn’t do anything with it.
The save was Jackson’s 13th of the season. Lefty Sean Newcomb picked up the win, throwing 1.1 innings of one-hit baseball. A former starter, Newcomb now has a 1.93 ERA in 37.1 innings this year.
Former teammates, fans honor Tom Seaver
Prior to the game, fifteen members of the “Miracle Mets” paraded down Seaver Way in classic cars.
The loudest cheers of the day came for Seaver’s family. With Seaver unable to attend due to dementia, this was an awesome tribute by the best fans in baseball.
“The thing that hurts the most is that he wasn’t there,” former battery mate Jerry Grote said.
Earlier this week, the Mets renamed the street outside the stadium and announced plans to build a statue of Seaver in front of Citi Field.
Well done, Mets fans.
Up next
Noah Syndergaard (5-4, 4.55 ERA) is set to be activated from the IL and start on Sunday. He will be opposed by LHP Max Fried (9-3, 3.96).
The game will start at 7:08 p.m. ET and will be televised on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball.
