Mets go from bad to worse in another loss to A’s
· Yahoo Sports
NEW YORK — Things went from bad to worse in Queens seemingly in a matter of minutes, but if you’ve watched the New York Mets at all this week, it probably felt much longer.
Mental mistakes, defensive miscues and a lack of urgency early in the game led to an 11-6 loss to the A’s Saturday at Citi Field, the fourth straight for the Mets (7-8).
Visit playerbros.org for more information.
They fought back later, scoring five runs after the fifth. Bo Bichette homered for the first time with the Mets, a two-run shot off left-hander Jacob Lopez in the fifth that breathed new life back into the crowd. Francisco Alvarez hit one to lead off the sixth, and the Mets scored again on a sacrifice fly, bringing them back to within two runs of tying. Then it was Jorge Polanco’s turn to homer, doing so off Justin Sterner in the top of the seventh, making it 7-6.
But Luke Weaver gave up four runs in the eighth. Tyler Soderstrom hit his second home run of the game, a towering three-run shot to right field that came right after Shea Langeliers hit an RBI single. The A’s (7-7) pushed the game out of reach to take the series.
The life was sucked right out of Citi Field and its home dugout.
The big implosion came in the top of the fourth inning, giving up five runs to go down by six.
Right-hander Kodai Senga coughed up five runs in the top of the third, though it wasn’t all on him. All told, an error, a failed double play, botched ground balls and a passed ball forced Senga to throw far more pitches than necessary over his 2 1/3 innings, the shortest outing of his career. The pitches he did throw were around the corners and the edge of the zone, with the starter seeming reticent to challenge hitters and throw the ball over the plate.
The Mets averted disaster in the first inning. An error by Carson Benge in left field opened the game, but Senga retired the next three in order. Bichette drove in his first of three runs in the bottom of the inning, with an RBI single off left-hander Lopez (1-1).
Things went downhill quickly in the top of the second. Senga allowed back-to-back singles to start the inning, then walked Carlos Cortes after a nine-pitch battle. He walked the next hitter to tie the game.
Lawrence Butler rolled over on an 0-2 forkball, which should have been an inning-ending double play. But Francisco Lindor failed to get into position for the double play, and second baseman Marcus Semien had to field it himself. He got the force at second for one out, but didn’t have time to get the runner at first. Another run scored, and the A’s went ahead, 2-1.
It was the second time in as many days that Lindor failed to turn a double play.
The top of the fourth opened with a double, a passed ball and a two-run homer by Soderstrom. It got even uglier from there. The next batter, Jacob Wilson, sent a slow roller past Senga right to Semien, who missed the ball completely. Former Mets utilityman Jeff McNeil sent a hard grounder to the right side, with Mark Vientos deflecting it into shallow left field.
Finally, Max Muncy looked at a called third strike to get the first out of the inning.
But then Cortes took Senga deep to right field, and the Mets went to the bullpen.
He was charged with seven earned runs on eight hits in the loss (0-2), walking two and striking out three.
____