Mets swept in doubleheader against Orioles after 7-3 loss in Game 2

The Mets lost Game 2 of Thursday's doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles, 7-3, to get swept on the day and lose the series.

Here are the takeaways…

-Two batters into Game 2, the Mets started things off the same way they started Game 1 — with runners on second and third and nobody out. Unlike in the first game, though, New York didn't waste this golden opportunity to score and pushed across two runs on two productive outs by Juan Soto (RBI groundout) and Pete Alonso (sacrifice fly) to make it 2-0 early.

-After a scoreless first inning that required 32 pitches and ended with a lineout with the bases loaded, spot starter Brandon Waddell went back out for the second and wasn't so lucky. Back-to-back doubles by Cedric Mullins and Alex Jackson gave the Orioles their first run of the game, cutting New York's lead in half. Then, with two outs, Jordan Westburg homered to put Baltimore on top, 3-2.

Waddell pitched a 1-2-3 third to end his outing. He allowed three runs on four hits and a walk while striking out two.

–Brett Baty tied the game with a two-out single after Soto began the inning with a walk and a stolen base. The Mets were dangerously close to wasting that opportunity against Orioles starter Tomoyuki Sugano after an Alonso lineout and Mark Vientos strikeout sandwiched a Jeff McNeil walk before Baty came through. Unfortunately, it was the only hit with runners in scoring position that New York would have all game.

-Like Waddell, Justin Hagenman had a scoreless frame in his first inning of action, but things took a turn in the following frame. With runners on first and second and two outs, Colton Cowser broke the tie with a single and Ramon Urias brought home another run on Baty's fielding error at third base to give the O's a 5-3 advantage.

-Hagenman went back out for the sixth but was pulled after a leadoff double. LHP Richard Lovelady entered from there and got the lefty Jackson Holliday to ground out before getting a similar result from the righty Westburg who hit it on the ground to shortstop on the drawn-in infield. Francisco Lindor snared it on the backhand and threw home to try and nab the runner, but it was a second late as Baltimore scored once again.

Lovelady allowed a single and a walk to load the bases, which forced manager Carlos Mendoza to use a third reliever of the inning in Rico Garcia. Garcia got the groundball he needed to escape the jam, but the Mets couldn't turn the double play and another run scored.

-After stalling out for a run on five hits in the first game and going 1-for-11 with RISP, New York's offense couldn't make it up in the second game of the twinbill. Despite back-to-back hits to start the game, the Mets finished with five total hits. They also went 1-for-8 with RISP to go a staggering 2-for-19 with RISP in the doubleheader sweep.

–Brandon Nimmo was the only bright spot in the lineup, going 2-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base out of the leadoff spot.

Game MVP: Tomoyuki Sugano

Entering Thursday's game with a .276 batting average against, Sugano was able to keep the Mets' hitters at bay through six innings to earn his seventh win of the season.

Highlights

What's next

The Mets play their final series before the All-Star break as they take on the Kansas City Royals for three games starting on Friday night. First pitch is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. on SNY.

RHP Kodai Senga (7-3, 1.47 ERA) makes his return to the mound after a hamstring strain cost him a month on the IL. He will be opposed by former Met RHP Michael Wacha (4-9, 3.83 ERA).

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