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Try it freeBOSTON — Good pitching alone will only get the Mets so far this season.
As manager Carlos Mendoza’s crew has been reminded all too often lately, there is a need to drive in runners on base. And an occasional jolt over the fence wouldn’t hurt, either.
The team’s offensive doldrums carried into a third straight series, in a 3-1 loss to the Red Sox at Fenway Park on Monday.
In losing for the fourth time in five games, the Mets were 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position. The Mets have scored three runs or fewer in six straight games.
Juan Soto, who finished 1-for-10 this past weekend in the Subway Series, managed a single in four plate appearances on this night. But Soto also hit into a double play to kill an early rally.
Kodai Senga rebounded after a shaky beginning to finish at three earned runs allowed on five hits with five strikeouts and three walks over six innings. It marked the first time this season Senga surrendered three earned runs in a start.
Senga fell into a quick 2-0 hole.
Jarren Duran opened with a leadoff double in the first and Rafael Devers walked before Alex Bregman’s groundout brought in the run from third. Trevor Story delivered a two-out RBI single to extend the lead.
Duran’s RBI triple in the second gave the Red Sox a 3-0 lead. Carlos Narváez walked before Duran, with two outs, jumped on a forkball and hit it into the right field corner.
Tyrone Taylor’s RBI single in the third pulled the Mets within 3-1. Francisco Alvarez doubled leading off the inning. Francisco Lindor walked following Taylor’s single, but Soto killed the inning by hitting into a double play.
Pete Alonso’s second throwing miscue in as many nights gave the Red Sox a threat in the fourth.
Alonso flipped over Senga’s head covering first base on Duran’s grounder, giving the Red Sox runners on the corners with two outs. Devers walked to load the bases before Senga retired Bregman.
It was a rough night for Alonso, who smacked a shot off the Green Monster in the first inning but was thrown out as he slid into second base.
Alonso was initially ruled safe, but the Red Sox won a replay challenge.
Soto hit a shot off the Monster in the sixth for a single — he delayed running to watch a ball he evidently thought would clear the wall.
Soto got the base back by stealing second. But after Alonso walked, Brandon Nimmo hit into a double play and Mark Vientos was retired.
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The Mets threatened with two outs in the seventh: Jeff McNeil walked and Taylor’s single (which included an error by right fielder Wilyer Abreu) put runners on the corners.
After a pitching change, Lindor was retired by Justin Slaten on the first pitch.