Mets takeaways from Tuesday’s 7-6 loss to Reds, including a comeback falling short
The Mets' offense almost made up for a poor David Peterson start, but New York fell 7-6 to the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night.
Here are the takeaways…
- With Max Scherzer’s start being skipped due to neck spasms, Peterson took the ball and got off to a rocky start. The lefty had trouble finding the strike zone, getting behind every hitter he faced in the first inning. He even airmailed a fastball that had the Reds with men on second and third with two outs. Peterson would eventually get out of the first giving up just one run, but he threw 28 pitches, 14 for strikes.
The issues continued in the second as Peterson had trouble locating his pitches and when he found the strike zone, the Reds were all over it. After giving up a run, Peterson was on the brink of limiting the damage but a grounder to the right side of Francisco Lindor came up on him and squirted into the outfield, allowing the third Reds run to score.
After a 1-2-3 third inning, Peterson would give up back-to-back one-out doubles and his night was done in the 4th. Peterson lasted just 3.1 innings (87 pitches), seven hits, four runs, two walks, four strikeouts.
- In the fifth inning, there was an odd moment on the base paths. Stephen Nogosek induced a ground ball to second base. Wil Myers slid and appeared to slap the ball out of the air before it went into Lindor’s glove. Everyone was called safe and Buck Showalter came out to discuss. It’s not a reviewable play and Showalter continued to argue and eventually was ejected.
Nogosek, with a man on first and second with one out, gave up a triple to TJ Friedl and the Reds were up 6-1. He would give up another run before retiring the side with the Mets down 7-1.
- The Mets’ offense continued to be ineffective early on. Luke Weaver came in with a 7.88 ERA and got through the Mets lineup relatively easily. Only Francisco Alvarez got to the 29-year-old journeyman.
Alvarez got the Mets on the board in the third inning with a two-out solo shot to right-center field that went 386 feet. He would add another solo shot in the sixth, his first career multi-homer game.
- Weaver would finally hit trouble in the seventh after he gave up a leadoff homer to Pete Alonso, his 12th of the season. Alonso is now tied for first place for most home runs in the MLB. After a walk to Brett Baty, Weaver was pulled.
Starling Marte hit sixth in the lineup, the first time the outfielder hit anywhere other than second since May 10, 2022. He hit an infield single to keep the inning going. Daniel Vogelbach walked to get the tying run to the plate, but Mark Canha hit into a double play although the Mets scored a run. Alvarez grounded out to end the threat with the Mets down 7-4.
- Lindor would bring the Mets within one run after a two-run shot in the eighth inning. After a one-out walk by Alonso, Baty lined out. Marte singled and Vogelbach walked to load the bases for a pinch-hitting Luis Guillorme. The utility infielder struck out on a check swing to end the threat.
Peterson's short outing had its toll on the bullpen. Nogosek gave up three runs in 1.2 IP, but the combination of Jeff Brigham, Adam Ottavino and Drew Smith pitched clean innings to give the Mets a chance in the ninth inning.
Alexis Diaz, after getting the final out in the 8th, started the ninth striking out Alvarez struck out looking. He got Brandon Nimmo looking on a pitch that missed the zone but was called a strike. Lindor hit a dribbler on the first pitch and was out at first. The Mets' comeback fell short, as they lost 7-6 to the Reds.
Highlights
What’s next
The Mets continue their three-game series against the Reds on Wednesday at 6:40 p.m.
Justin Verlander makes his second start for the Mets and he’ll go up against RHP Hunter Greene.
