Down just 2-1 in the top of the ninth against the San Diego Padres, the Mets were still within striking distance. Even after Dennis Santana gave up a two-run homer to Xander Bogaerts, the Mets came back in the bottom of the frame, threatening to walk it off.
But the comeback fell short when closer Josh Hader got Francisco Alvarez, the Mets’ top prospect, to strike out to end the game. The Mets fell 4-2 on Tuesday night at Citi Field, evening the series at 1-1.
The Mets cut the deficit to two runs in the bottom of the ninth when Tommy Pham laced a single up the center to score Pete Alonso and advance Jeff McNeil to third base. But the theme of the game was the Mets’ inability to drive in runs and the ninth-inning theatrics came to an end with a loss.
It was a dismal offensive showing for the Mets, who managed only five hits and went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
Making his third start of the season, Peterson (0-2) set himself up for success with good counts and good command through the first four innings. Other than a two-run double to Manny Machado, Peterson was effective, limiting the Padres to two earned runs on six hits, walking two and striking out six over 5 2/3 innings.
With the Mets up 1-0, Peterson gave up a leadoff single to Luis Campusano in the fifth and a one-out single to Brandon Dixon to put runners on first and second. Alonso made a fantastic stop on a hard grounder by Bogaerts to get the second out of the inning, diving to the bag to make the out.
Peterson had Machado at 2-2 before he fouled back a changeup and a slider. He tried another slider and Machado lined it down the left field line for a double.
This came right after the Mets took a lead in the fourth. Left-hander Ryan Weathers (1-0), the son of former Mets and Yankees right-hander David Weathers, gave up back-to-back singles to Francisco Lindor and Alonso with none out, with Lindor getting to third on Alonso’s hit. Alonso was then picked off at first for the first out in the inning but a fly ball by Canha scored Lindor to make it 1-0.
Weathers earned his first win of the season in five innings of work. It was the fourth time the Mets lost when facing a left-handed starter (2-4 overall).
The Mets threatened in the eighth when Eduardo Escobar drew a leadoff walk. He was replaced by pinch-runner Tim Locastro, who stole second base. But Alvarez then struck out on three straight sliders from right-hander Steven Wilson.
Making his second start at catcher in place of the injured Omar Narvaez, the Mets liked the matchup against the left-handed Weathers, but the organization’s top prospect went 0-for-2 against him before Wilson and Hader struck him out.
Brandon Nimmo walked and Starling Marte grounded into a force to put two on with two out, but Wilson got Lindor to swing through strike three to end the inning and the threat.
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