QUEENS, NY — The Mets’ disappointing 7-6 loss to the Cleveland Guardians on Monday night was a collective effort, but not in a positive way. After failing to capitalize on a bases-loaded, one-out opportunity in the ninth, the Mets (63-50) faltered defensively, with Brett Baty’s throwing error in the 10th inning leading to a two-run burst that handed the Guardians a win in the series opener at Citi Field.
With ghost runner Daniel Schneeman on second, Jose Ramirez was intentionally walked to set up a force play. David Fry’s bunt off reliever Ryan Helsley went to Baty at third, who made a wide throw that glanced off Francisco Lindor’s glove, allowing Schneeman to score. Gabriel Arias added an insurance run with a sacrifice fly.
Baty managed to single home ghost runner Jeff McNeil in the 10th, bringing the Mets within one with two outs, but Luis Torrens flied out to end the game. Mets’ star closer Edwin Diaz helped extend the rivalry by escaping a no-out jam in which Brayan Rocchio reached third after a single, a stolen base, and a throwing error.
Diaz recovered by striking out Kyle Manzardo, inducing a pop-up from Steven Kwan, and striking out Schneeman. The Mets had another chance in the ninth, with Francisco Alvarez’s single, Francisco Lindor’s double, and an intentional walk to Juan Soto loading the bases with one out. However, Pete Alonso struck out, and Jeff McNeil lined out.
Alonso overturned a 5-0 sixth-inning deficit by driving in four runs, including a three-run blast in the sixth and an RBI single in the eighth, putting him one shy of Darryl Strawberry’s franchise home run record. His single was part of a rally where Lindor and Soto also singled, and Mark Vientos’ sacrifice fly tied the game.
Sean Manaea’s performance was not enough to end the Mets’ pitching troubles. He cruised through five scoreless innings but was hit for five runs in the sixth. The Mets struggled early against Cleveland starter Slade Cecconi, managing just three hits in the first four innings. In the fifth, Cedric Mullins reached second with no outs, but the Mets couldn’t capitalize.
The Guardians broke through in the sixth after Manaea allowed a lead-off single and hit a batter, with Fry and Carlos Santana driving them in. Arias expanded the lead with his eighth home run of the season.
Sloppy play from the Guardians allowed the Mets to stage a comeback. Lindor reached first on a passed ball after striking out, and a potential double play was botched by Brayan Rocchio. Alonso then hit a sinking pitch for a three-run homer, bringing the Mets within two and himself within one of Strawberry’s record.
The Mets nearly took the lead in the eighth inning, but Mullins’ grounder was snagged by a diving Rocchio, keeping the score tied.
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