Steve Cohen sat in front of a crowd at Citi Field and said the Mets need to “get going.”
But once they got on the field to face the Milwaukee Brewers, it became clear that the engine that is the 2023 Mets is still stalled.
The Brewers gave the Mets chances but they failed to capitalize in a 5-2 loss Wednesday at Citi Field. The Mets went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and had the bases loaded in the fourth but managed only a single run.
Kodai Senga put the Mets in a 2-0 hole in the first inning but settled in for four more. The right-hander finished the day with only five hits, two walks and eight strikeouts, but he still struggled with pitch efficiency, throwing 102 pitches but only 59 for strikes.
Tommy Pham homered off left-hander Wade Miley to lead off the second and cut the Milwaukee (42-38) lead in half. The Mets loaded the bases in the fourth with no outs and Francisco Alvarez drew a walk to score Francisco Lindor. The free pass tied the game. But that was all the Mets got out of the inning. Brett Baty struck out and Mark Canha grounded into a double play.
Miley exited after that fourth inning. He used only 74 pitches but the Brewers used five relievers to quiet the Mets (36-44). Devin Williams converted his 15th save with a 1-2-3 ninth.
The real drama came in the top of the eighth. With two outs and two on, Adam Ottavino threw Joey Wiemer a cutter inside. Wiemer swung at it and the pitch hit him right on the knuckles. However, home plate umpire Carlos Torres ruled it a checked swing and awarded him first base. Replays appeared to show the rookie outfielder swinging through the pitch before it hit him.
Ottavino protested. Alvarez questioned Torres. Manager Buck Showalter remained in the dugout but emerged soon after Christian Yelich hit a two-run double to extend the Brewers’ lead to three runs. Showalter expressed his displeasure with first base umpire Ron Kulpa, who ejected the veteran skipper. It was his second ejection since Sunday and his third of the season.
The Mets are down 2-1 in the four-game series. The team’s troubles started in Milwaukee in April when they were swept in the second series of the season. They’ve managed to win back-to-back games only once this month.
Mets executives can use whatever platitudes they want to use, but unless they make some changes, it’s very unlikely that the trajectory of the season will, in fact, change.
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