WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Pete Alonso is the engine driving the Mets lineup these days, but what happens when that motor isn’t running?

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On Saturday, the team received its latest reminder that Alonso alone won’t suffice in the battle to score runs consistently.

Help is needed.

With the first baseman hitless in his four at-bats, the Mets lost 3-1 to the A’s at Sutter Health Park, setting up a series rubber game on Sunday.

Alonso owns a 1.164 OPS and has delivered several game-changing hits for the Mets over the first 2 ½ weeks.

But Juan Soto has only one homer and four RBIs in his first 14 games with the team, Francisco Lindor has sputtered and the bottom of the Mets lineup has been a black hole. Brandon Nimmo has brought power to the lineup – he delivered his fourth homer this season Saturday – but is hitting only .208.

Saturday’s loss was the Mets’ fifth of the season, and in each of them they scored two runs or fewer.

J.T. Ginn, a former Mets prospect traded to the A’s for Chris Bassitt before the 2022 season, frustrated his old organization by allowing one earned run on four hits and two walks with six strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings. The right-hander topped out at 97 mph with his fastball.

The Mets sustained a casualty with Jose Siri’s departure from the game in the second inning after he fouled a ball of his left shin. Initial indications from the team were that Siri sustained a contusion.

David Peterson gave the Mets six solid innings in which he allowed two earned runs on seven hits with five strikeouts.

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The left-hander has completed six innings twice this season – the only Mets starting pitcher to get that far in a game.

The A’s didn’t hit a ball out of the infield against Peterson until the fourth, when Jacob Wilson stroked a leadoff double and scored the game’s first run on Tyler Soderstrom’s one-out single.

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Peterson allowed singles to Shea Langeliers and Miguel Andujar, the latter of which extended the A’s lead to 2-0.

Peterson’s long inning continued as Hayden Senger was called for catcher’s interference with Luis Urias at the plate.

But with the bases loaded, Peterson got Max Muncy to hit an inning-ending grounder.

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Nimmo sliced the A’s lead in half with a homer leading off the sixth. It gave Nimmo a blast in consecutive games, tying him with Alonso for the team lead in homers (four).

Jhonny Pereda delivered an RBI double against Jose Butto in the seventh that widened the Mets’ deficit to 3-1.