Mets squander another late-inning lead in frustrating 6-5 loss to Dodgers

The Mets had to settle for a disappointing four-game split with the reigning champions, as they once again fell late to the Dodgers, 6-5, on Thursday afternoon in Los Angeles.

Here are the takeaways…

— Pete Alonso flaunted his power with a pair of home runs on Wednesday night, and the pop in his bat appeared again on Thursday afternoon. He put the Mets ahead 1-0 in the second with a solo shot off Dodgers starter Landon Knack that traveled 408 feet to the bleachers in right-center. The opposite-field blast bumped Alonso’s RBI total to an NL-leading 54, and he’s now one homer shy of tying David Wright for the second-most (241) in franchise history.

— The Mets inflicted further damage on Knack with a three-run rally in the third. Hitting in the leadoff spot for the first time this season, Brandon Nimmo ripped a solo homer to center that narrowly avoided the glove of Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages. Then, three pitches later, Starling Marte made the score 3-0 with a liner to left that landed in the Dodgers’ bullpen. Knack’s control issues persisted and placed him in a bases-loaded jam, and a sac fly to left from Brett Baty scored Alonso to push the lead to 4-0.

— The early four-run cushion didn’t provide enough comfort for David Peterson, as he allowed the Dodgers to score three runs in the bottom of the third with a rally sparked by a one-out walk and single. With runners on the corners, Mookie Betts doubled deep to center that brought home Miguel Rojas, and then a single to left from Will Smith and a fielder’s choice groundout from Teoscar Hernández cut the Mets’ lead to 4-3.

— Knacks’ lack of command created more traffic on the bases in the fourth. After walking his fourth and fifth batters with one out, he was pulled from the game at a whopping 86 pitches and replaced by Jack Dreyer. The Mets threatened to score, as Juan Soto forced another walk to load the bases, but Dreyer ultimately escaped the jam by getting Alonso to strike out and Jeff McNeil to fly out. The Mets entered Thursday with a lowly .219 average with RISP (fourth worst in MLB).

— As if the Mets’ overall hitting woes with runners in scoring position weren’t glaring enough, they left a staggering 10 runners on base through six innings. Another prime opportunity to tack on runs was wasted in the sixth, when Marte got tagged out leaning too far off third base after a McNeil strikeout. It was an inning-ending double play that kept the score 4-3.

— Peterson didn’t have his best stuff, but he delivered yet another lengthy and gutsy performance the Mets needed. After a messy third inning, the left-hander hunkered down and pitched four scoreless frames, and his outing ended with a huge strikeout of Ohtani that demanded eight dramatic pitches. Peterson completed seven innings for the second time in 2025 (both against the Dodgers), allowing seven hits and two walks with six punchouts across 91 pitches. His season ERA now sits at 2.80.

— The Mets finally broke through with an insurance run in the eighth, as Alonso delivered an RBI single to right that scored Marte and bumped their lead to 5-3. But it didn’t take long for the Dodgers to erase their deficit and wreak havoc against reliever Reed Garrett. After a leadoff walk to Betts, Smith smacked an RBI double to left to make the score 5-4, and then a double-clutch and errant throw home from Baty on a fielder’s choice grounder off the bat of Pages tied the game.

— Garrett intentionally walked pinch-hitter Freddie Freeman to put runners on first and second with two outs, and the move brought on a matchup with Michael Conforto, who stepped up to the plate 0-for-11 in the series. The veteran outfielder ultimately got the last laugh against his former team, driving in the go-ahead run with a single to left. It was a blown save for Garrett, who entered Thursday with a pristine 0.68 ERA.

— Another barn burner brought Dodgers closer Tanner Scott out for the ninth, and while the Mets managed to breathe down his neck, he locked down the save by striking out Tyrone Taylor and Baty and getting Luisangel Acuña to fly out. A game that simply slipped away for the Mets — they went 2-for-10 with RISP and left 13 runners on base.

Game MVP: Michael Conforto

Yes, him. The Mets dared their former outfielder to beat them in the eighth, and he did just that by driving in the Dodgers’ go-ahead run. The consolation prize belongs to Alonso, however, who’s logged 12 RBI across the last five games and boosted his average to .298.

Highlights

What’s next

The Mets (39-24) will continue their week-long road trip on Friday night, with the first of three games against the Colorado Rockies. First pitch is set for 8:40 p.m. on SNY.

Kodai Senga (6-3, 1.60 ERA) is scheduled to take the mound, opposite veteran right-hander Antonio Senzatela (1-10, 7.14 ERA).

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