The Mets keep finding ways to lose and they did, yet again, on Thursday at Citi Field.
Brian Anderson’s go-ahead sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh inning gave the Brewers a 3-2 victory to take the four-game set from Mets. The third baseman’s long flyball to the track in center field off of reliever Dominic Leone put the final nail in the Amazins’ coffin who appeared to be in control of the game entering the late innings.
Max Scherzer appeared to be on cruise control before Victor Caratini’s game-tying two-run shot in the top of the sixth wiped away the Mets’ back-to-back homers in the third. Brandon Nimmo and Brett Baty’s third-inning solo homers looked like it would be all Scherzer and the Mets would need.
The 38-year-old put together a quality start tossing six innings, allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out nine. He lowered his season ERA to 3.87. The veteran right-hander turned over a tie game to the bullpen, who immediately gave up the lead.
Left-hander T.J. McFarland was the first to come on in relief. He registered just one out while allowing a hit and drilling shortstop Willy Adames with a pitch before Buck Showalter handed the ball over to Leone.
The right-hander surrendered an infield single to Owen Miller just before Anderson’s go-ahead sacrifice fly.
Showalter stayed away from his high-leverage relievers in the seventh, such as Brooks Raley, Adam Ottavino and Drew Smith, hoping to grab some outs with the depth in his bullpen.
The Mets threatened in the bottom of the seventh after giving up the lead as Starling Marte stepped up with the bases loaded and one out. The outfielder grounded into an unassisted 4-3 double play to end the threat letting the boo birds out of their cage as the displeased crowd of 30,282 let the Amazins’ hear it.
Joel Payamps pitched a perfect eighth before handing the ball off to Devin Williams in the ninth. The star reliever got himself into trouble, pitching with the bases loaded and two outs with Marte back at the plate. The outfielder struck out on three pitches. Marte received loud boos from the home crowd as the Mets dropped nine games under .500.
()