Mets crumble in loss to Padres as they maintain their breath after Juan Soto scare
SAN DIEGO — The Mets’ offense was sputtering even earlier than its most prized and costly participant despatched a screaming foul ball off his foot that pressured him from the sport.
Juan Soto exited early on an evening the remainder of the lineup may not have bothered displaying up in a quiet, 7-1 loss to the Padres at a sold-out Petco Park on a Tuesday that the membership hopes might be shrugged off as a scare and nothing extra.
The $765 million man — who has performed in 107 of 108 video games this season — smashed a foul ball off his left, again foot within the fourth inning and was in apparent ache. He hobbled his approach midway to first base earlier than taking a knee, with a coach and supervisor Carlos Mendoza operating out to test on him.
After a number of minutes of examination, Soto initially remained to complete his at-bat. He smacked a one-hopper to the fitting facet and was robbed on a diving play from Padres second baseman Jake Cronenworth, throughout which Soto ran to first base however not easily.
By the underside of the inning, Soto was changed defensively. The Mets referred to as the damage a foot contusion, and additional data was not instantly out there because the staff, which entered San Diego on a seven-game profitable streak, clinched a sequence defeat earlier than Wednesday’s finale.
The Mets’ offense totaled 4 hits in opposition to Ryan Bergert and 5 Padres pitchers, none of which got here with runners in scoring place and none of which got here from the quartet Steve Cohen has referred to as the “Fab 4.”
Brandon Nimmo, Francisco Lindor, Soto and Pete Alonso have appeared extra just like the Drab 4 of late. Nimmo (0-for-3 with a stroll) is 2-for-18 in his previous 4 video games.
The slide has been longer for the batters behind him.
Lindor (0-for-4 with three strikeouts) is amid an 8-for-55 (.145) funk. Soto was 5-for-43 (.116) in his previous 12 video games earlier than leaving. Alonso (0-for-3 with a stroll) is 5-for-57 (.088) in his previous 16 video games.
The Mets had been profitable anyway due to the depth of their order, however nobody was in a position to step up Tuesday, when the Mets wasted a robust (however temporary) outing from Sean Manaea.
The lefty pitched 5 sturdy, one-run innings and walked off the mound within the fifth inning having retired 12 straight batters. As he walked to the dugout, he flashed one finger towards Mendoza, as if asking for yet another inning — an opportunity to turn into the primary non-David Peterson Mets starter to finish six innings since Clay Holmes on June 7.
The plea was unsuccessful. Manaea was pulled after 86 pitches, and the sport was quickly out of hand.
José Buttó allowed loads of exhausting contact within the sixth inning, though the go-ahead hit got here from a Jackson Merrill chopper that leapfrogged Alonso at first base and rolled down the road for what turned a two-out, RBI triple that gave the Padres a 2-1 lead.
After one other silent body from the Mets’ offense, the Padres ran away with a five-run seventh inning in opposition to Buttó and Chris Devenski, the biggest blow a three-run house run from Manny Machado.
The Mets’ greatest scoring alternative got here in a fifth inning during which they scored as soon as however in all probability ought to have scored extra. Brett Baty walked, moved to 3rd on a single from Luis Torrens and Nimmo labored a stroll to load the bases with out an out.
However the mightily struggling Lindor, who continues to reach on the ballpark early for extra batting observe classes, struck out. Mendoza, sensing the urgency, pulled Tyrone Taylor from the sport for pinch-hitter Starling Marte, who managed to ship a sacrifice fly to heart for the Mets’ solely run.
Alonso then popped out in what was a uncommon Mets risk.
The Mets completed with 4 hits — or merely double the 2 knocks that got here from Jose Iglesias’ bat. The beloved former Met had a robust sport that included a pair knocks and several other spectacular defensive performs.
Enjoying third base, Iglesias recorded all three outs within the second inning, together with a pleasant play on an Alonso floor ball and robbing Mark Vientos with a diving stab. Afterward, Iglesias stole a smile on the visiting dugout.
