The Mets went into their series with the Minnesota Twins playing very well. They hadn’t dropped a series since their opening set with the Astros, nor lost consecutive games all season.
Both those things changed after Wednesday’s 4-3 loss in extra innings, and largely because of the lack of clutch hits from the Mets’ offense. After they took the first game on the back of Juan Soto‘s power and shoddy Twins defense, the Mets dropped the final two games of the series after going a combined 3-for-16 with runners in scoring position (5-for-28 across the three games).
“It’s baseball. You’re gonna have ups and downs and right now, going through some downs with runners in scoring position but we’re getting guys on so the more opportunities we get the more we’re going to cash in,” Brandon Nimmo said after the game. “Right now we’re finding ways to win games even without it, and I’m proud of that… It’s something I expect to get better and we’re aware of it. Sometimes you go through times where you’re good at it and sometimes you’re not as good at it. I’m just proud that we’ve been able to find ways to win despite it early on.”
Most of those hits with RISP came in one inning on Wednesday. Down 3-0, the Mets rallied to score three runs in the eighth inning before ultimately falling in the 10th inning.
“We didn’t play good baseball for the first half but then coming back in the eighth, putting a rally together against one of the better arms from them, was really good to get back in the game,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “Overall, we couldn’t close the deal today. We didn’t get the job done. We’ve just got to play better.”
“I’m proud of the guys for fighting back,” Nimmo said, pointing out how they played a day game after a night game and had to prepare to head back home for a four-game series starting Thursday against the Cardinals.
But the Mets (11-7) now have to take on a scrappy Cardinals (9-9) team on the heels of their first losing streak of the season.
Although many of the Mets hitters aren’t hitting when it matters, Pete Alonso continues to. The slugger had three more hits on Wednesday, including an RBI double that started the Mets scoring. He’s been the Mets’ early-season MVP and Nimmo understands the importance of that production.
“He’s swinging it amazing, man. He’s really staying in the zone, he’s taking what they’re giving him,” Nimmo said of Alonso. “He’s putting really good at-bats up there… I know he worked really hard this offseason I’m glad it’s paying dividends right away… He looks like a complete hitter up there, which is fantastic. I’m so happy for him. We’ll need that as the year moves on.”
Nimmo in center?
With Jose Siri about to hit the IL, the Mets will have to figure out who will pay center field alongside Tyrone Taylor. Mendoza had said Nimmo could see time with Luisangel Acuña, potentially getting a crack in the outfield — Jeff McNeil is also going to get looks in center while rehabbing in the minors.
Nimmo was asked about the potential shift from left and the veteran outfielder was open to whatever the Mets need him to do.
“I’ll play wherever they want me to. If that requires center field, then that’s where I’ll be,” Nimmo said. “We’ll see how they want to write things up as we move forward.
“I honestly don’t care [switching back and forth]. They can switch me back and forth if they want. Wherever is best for the team that’s where I’ll play that day. It doesn’t take any skin off my nose. I don’t have the pride like that. I just want to help the team win. Wherever they want me, that’s where I’ll play.”
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