Just when it looked like the Mets were finally able to produce runs, a six-run outburst over the first two innings was undone by yet another starting pitching implosion. David Peterson, the only starter in the rotation who can reliably go six innings every five days, had nearly given up the lead when he was removed in the fourth inning.
This time, the Mets couldn’t hit their way out. They lost to the Atlanta Braves 11-6 on Wednesday night at Citi Field, losing for the eighth time in nine tries.
Up 6-0 after two innings, Peterson struggled to find the strike zone in the top of the third, but ultimately worked out of a bases-loaded jam. However, the shaky inning was a sign of what was to come in the fourth, when he appeared to lose the zone completely, giving up six earned runs.
The lefty walked catcher Sean Murphy on four straight pitches, then gave up a single to Michael Harris II before striking out Eli White for the first out. He threw four pitches to Nacho Alvarez Jr. that were nowhere near the zone to load the bases, and battled with No. 9 hitter Nick Allen for nine pitches before walking in a run.
Back to the top of the order, Jurickson Profar got a changeup on the outside edge of the zone and lined it to left field for a double. Three runs scored, and the Mets lead was suddenly down to only two. Peterson threw six pitches to Matt Olson to walk him. Two of those pitches were strikes, but one was a generous call.
That forced Carlos Mendoza to rely on the bullpen. He took the ball from Peterson as right-hander Reed Garrett was summoned. Marcell Ozuna promptly singled off Garrett to drive in a run.
Finally, Garrett got the second out in the inning when Ozzie Albies looked at a called strike 3, but in his second at-bat in the inning, Murphy walked to load the bases. Harris hit a grand slam to cap a disastrous inning and put the Braves up 9-6.
Peterson took his second straight loss (7-6), allowing a season-high six earned runs on six hits, walking five and striking out five.
Right-hander Paul Blackburn, making only his seventh appearance of the season, went five innings the rest of the way through to save the bullpen. However, his two-run effort muddies the pitching waters for the rest of the weekend. Having thrown five innings, he won’t be able to pitch again for another five days. Without minor league options, the only way the Mets can get another reliever from Triple-A would be to designate him for assignment.
The Mets jumped all over right-hander Carlos Carrasco in the first inning, scoring three runs in the first and three in the second. Down by three in the bottom of the fourth, the Mets put two on with two out. Starling Marte singled to right field and Pete Alonso was waved around second, but the Polar Bear slid head-first right as the throw from White came in to Murphy. He was tagged out, and the inning ended.
The fans who stuck around through all nine innings after a nearly two-hour rain delay and a fourth inning that felt twice as long booed the Mets off the field, predictably.
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