Mets' good feeling doesn't last long: Here's why they ended up with Subway Series split

NEW YORK — The Mets' latest feel-good moment only lasted for about 24 hours.

After ripping the Yankees in the Subway Series opener on Tuesday night, the Mets offense was quieted and defense lackluster in a 3-1 loss in front of 46,761 fans at Yankee Stadium.

The loss meant that the Mets and Yankees split the Subway Series for the 2023 season.

The Mets could not gather some momentum after a solid win, instead falling back to 47-54 with their latest loss. They slipped to 7.5 games back of the National League wild card.

"Things have been tough like this all year," Jeff McNeil said. "I feel like we progress and then tonight the bats kind of fell asleep. We've got to put it all together for a while now. We're not in the best spot right now. We need to play good baseball and do it quick."

Defensive shortfalls

In his second start back from bone graft surgery, Jose Quintana worked hard to get through six innings. The Mets' defense made it a little bit more difficult.

It began in the bottom of the third inning when after loading the bases on a pair of walks, Quintana induced a chopper to third base. Mark Vientos threw to second base but Anthony Volpe beat the throw and the opening run scored.

"The problem with it is the angle because you're over the third-base line and you're probably not going to be able to throw the ball to the plate because the runner's in your way," Showalter said of the possibility of throwing home. "Guys are taught nowadays to run down the line and mirror the catcher where you can't get the ball to home plate. I don't think he had a play period."

With the bases reloaded, another Yankees run would score on a sacrifice fly from Isiah Kiner-Falefa to build their lead to 2-0.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Harrison Bader knocked a slow roller down the third-base line that Vientos threw wide of first base. With Bader in scoring position, Volpe knocked an RBI single to move the Yankees ahead 3-1.

Quintana turned in his second straight quality start, allowing two earned runs (three total) on six hits and three walks, lowering his ERA to 3.27. In a second straight gritty effort, Quintana threw 94 pitches and struck out five.

"I'm so close. Right now, I'm ready to compete," Quintana said. "The most I have in mind is to get the score in really good position to win the game. I want to keep working so hard to be in that shape, but my shoulder feels good."

Lack of offense

The Mets were coming off one of their best offensive performances in recent weeks in the series opener on Tuesday night.

Pete Alonso hit a pair of home runs to snap an extended home run drought and Jeff McNeil ripped a pair of hits and drove in three runs. In total, the Mets pushed across nine runs on 12 hits.

But as so often has been the case, the Mets offense went back into its shell against Carlos Rodon and the Yankees' high-leverage relievers on Wednesday night.

The Mets' lone run off Carlos Rodon came after back-to-back hits from Francisco Alvarez and Danny Mendick before a Brandon Nimmo sacrifice fly got them within 2-1. The Mets stranded seven runners against Rodon.

The chances to mount more offense were quickly erased. In the fourth inning, Alvarez grounded into a double play with two runners on and one out.

Some frustration bubbled over in the top of the fourth inning after McNeil was hit in the back by a fastball from Rodon. McNeil lingered on the ground and spiked his helmet. He was the third Mets player to be drilled in the two Subway Series games.

"I get a little frustrated sometimes, just a little upset," McNeil said. "I know it wasn't on purpose. He's had a little bit of control issues the last few starts. I know he's trying to throw strikes there with the lead and one got away. It happens."

In the fifth, Francisco Lindor lined out and Alonso struck out with a pair of runners on base. Some of it was tough luck. Lindor's line drive was the second-hardest hit ball of the night at 108.6 mph. Pete Alonso hit a line-drive 110 mph into the glove of Kiner-Falefa with two runners on in the third.

"I think I counted six balls that were well over 100 (mph). You can't guide them," Showalter said. "You look at the ball Pete hit, I can go through them all and remember them well, but we had a couple flares fall in yesterday. I never seems to even out. You don't dwell on it."

The Mets went silently after that. They did not muster a hit against any of the four members of the Yankees' bullpen - Michael King, Wandy Peralta, Tommy Kahnle and Clay Holmes - who pitched the final 3.1 innings.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Mets lose to Yankees to close out Subway Series: Takeaways