The Mets couldn’t replicate their past success on Opening Day, and it resulted in a sour start to the Juan Soto era in Queens — with the star chasing a pitch for a strikeout to end the game.
After an offseason filled with hype, from Soto’s $765 million megadeal to Pete Alonso’s return, the Mets lost to the Astros, 3-1, on Thursday.
The Mets loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth against Astros closer Josh Hader and collected their first run on Francisco Lindor’s sacrifice fly, but Soto struck out to end things.
Clay Holmes, whose shift from a reliever to the rotation in spring training went about as seamlessly as possible, couldn’t complete five innings, allowing two runs on five hits while walking four batters.
Soto went 1-for-2 with a walk, hitting a single in his first at-bat.
The Astros scored a pair of runs — in the second and third — on fielder’s choices, while catcher Yainer Diaz added a single.