The Mets ended their series with the in a disappointing four-game split after another late loss on Thursday afternoon in Los Angeles, dropping 6-5 to the 2025 World Series champions.
Key Points:
– Pete Alonso showcased his power once again, hitting two home runs on Wednesday and following up with a solo shot in the second inning on Thursday off starter Landon Knack. His 408-foot homer to center right increased his RBI total to an NL-leading 54, moving him closer to tying David Wright for second place in franchise history (241 RBIs).
– The Mets extended their lead in the third inning with a three-run rally. Leadoff hitter Brandon Nimmo launched a solo home run to center, narrowly escaping the ‘ glove. After three pitches, Sterling Marte followed with a liner into the bullpen, pushing the score to 3-0. Knack continued to struggle with control, loading the bases, and a Sacrifice Fly from Brett Butty brought Alonso home to make it 4-0.
– Despite the early lead, Mets pitcher David Peterson and three runners on base saw the score three runs in the bottom of the inning, with Mookie Betts doubling in Miguel Rojas and Will Smith, and a groundout from Teoscar Hernandez cutting the Mets’ lead to 4-3.
– Knack’s control problems worsened, and after walking two batters in the fourth and fifth innings, he was replaced by Jack Dreyer. Dreyer escaped a jam with Juan Soto loading the bases but got Alonso to strike out and Jeff McNeill to fly out. The Mets entered Thursday with a poor .219 batting average with runners in scoring position (RISP).
– The Mets left 10 runners on base through six innings, squandering multiple opportunities. Marte was caught leaning too far off third base, resulting in a double play and keeping the score at 4-3.
– Though Peterson’s outing began shaky, he settled down to deliver a strong performance, pitching seven innings with seven hits, two walks, and six strikeouts on 91 pitches. He recorded a huge strikeout against Shohei Ohtani to end his outing, lowering his ERA to 2.80.
– The Mets added an insurance run with Alonso’s RBI single in the eighth, extending their lead to 5-3. However, the quickly fought back with Reed Garrett on the mound, who struggled after a leadoff walk to Betts. Will Smith’s RBI single cut the lead to 5-4, and an error on a grounder allowed the to tie the game.
– Garrett intentionally walked pinch hitter Freddie Freeman but then gave up the go-ahead run to Michael Comfort, who delivered an RBI single off his former team. Garrett’s blown save snapped his 0.68 ERA streak.
– The game came down to Tanner Scott closing it out for the Mets, who struck out the final batter to earn the save. The Mets had impressive hits from Tyrone Taylor and Louis Sanger Acknya but ultimately slipped in a tight contest due to leaving 13 runners on base and a poor 10-2 performance with RISP.
Game MVP: Michael Comfort, who drove in the ‘ go-ahead run, overshadowing Alonso’s strong recent streak of 12 RBIs in five games.
What’s Next?
The Mets (39-24) will continue their road trip with a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies starting Friday night at 8:40 pm on SNY. Kodai Senga (6-3, 1.60 ERA) is slated to pitch against veteran right-hander No Antonio (1-10, 7.14 ERA) for the Rockies.
Fan Take:
This game underscores the Mets’ power and pitching potential but also their struggles with clutch hitting and bullpen reliability, which are critical issues for any team chasing a championship. Baseball fans should watch closely as this season could be a defining moment for the Mets’ ability to close out tight games against top-tier competition—and it highlights how small errors and missed opportunities can dramatically influence outcomes in high-stakes baseball.
