The actual Mets game on David Wright’s number retirement day certainly didn’t go as they would have hoped. The Mets lost to the Cincinnati Reds, 5-2, at Citi Field after a mostly lackluster performance from their offense.
Until the final inning, anyway. With one out and two on, Juan Soto hit a long drive down the right-field line that would have tied the score had it been fair. But the potential three-run homer was foul, even after an umpire review. Soto struck out and then Pete Alonso followed with a long fly out to right that was exciting for a moment, too, but was ultimately the final out.
The Mets, who have now lost three straight dating back to the final game before the All-Star break, heard some boos from the sellout crowd of 42,605 after several early lineup failures.
The Mets, who entered the day batting just .232 with runners in scoring position, a season-long issue, were 1-for-10 in such situations Saturday. They left 11 runners on base, including leaving the bases loaded twice. They had two on and no out in the ninth but did not score.
Over the past four games, the Mets have scored 11 runs.
Clay Holmes was the starter and loser for the Mets, allowing five runs (four earned) in 5.1 innings. He is now 8-5 this season with a 3.48 ERA.
Here are the takeaways…
-The Mets opened the scoring in the first inning, taking a 1-0 lead, but left the bases loaded. Mark Vientos hit a two-out RBI single to drive in Brandon Nimmo, who had led off with a single. Alonso went to second on Vientos’ single and Jeff McNeil walked to put a Met on every base. But Ronny Mauricio grounded out and the Mets couldn’t cash in.
-In the second inning, Brett Baty extended the Mets' lead to 2-0 with a solo homer that traveled 393 feet to right and had an exit velocity of 110.2 mph off the bat. Baty, who also had a single in the fourth inning, came into the game batting .333 in his previous nine games and .296 over his previous 20.
-Holmes allowed two runs in the third inning, but only one of them was earned, thanks to Luis Torrens’ throwing error. Jake Fraley led off with a double and Noelvi Marte was hit by a pitch. Torrens threw away a pickoff attempt and Fraley raced home while Marte went to third. One out later, Matt McLain hit an RBI single to knot the score at two. It was the fourth error of the season in 60 games behind the plate for Torrens.
-Holmes walked the leadoff hitter in the fourth inning and that hurt. He got the next two batters out, but gave up a single to Tyler Stephenson and then an RBI single to Fraley, which gave the Reds a 3-2 lead.
-Holmes pitched into the sixth inning, but found trouble. This part was his fault: he walked Austin Hays leading off. This part wasn’t: One out later, Spencer Steer swung at a Holmes sweeper and hit it off the end of his bat, a 55.5 mph bouncer down the third-base line. It went for an infield hit and turned out to be Holmes’ final pitch. Reed Garrett came in and gave up an RBI fielder’s choice that could’ve been a double play, but Mauricio’s throw pulled Baty off the second base bag. Fraley followed with an RBI double and the Reds had a 5-2 lead.
-Holmes threw 92 pitches and worked 5.1 innings, but it’s another game in which the Mets did not get terrific length from their starting pitcher, an ongoing problem that will continue to be a topic swirling around the team, especially with the trade deadline looming at the end of July.
-The Mets staged a huge threat in the sixth inning, but left the bases loaded again. McNeil and Baty sandwiched walks around an out and then Torrens had a 12-pitch battle with reliever Scott Barlow, which ended in a walk to stuff the bases. Overall in the at-bat, Torrens hit seven foul balls. But Barlow struck out Nimmo and broke Francisco Lindor’s bat on an easy grounder to first.
-Lefty Brooks Raley entered the game in the seventh inning, making his season debut and first appearance since April 19, 2024. Raley, who was out after having Tommy John surgery, threw a 1-2-3 inning, including two strikeouts. After he caught Elly De La Cruz looking at a third strike, Raley walked off the mound, clapping his glove. Pitching coach Jeremy Hefner hugged him in the dugout afterward. Raley, who had terrific seasons in 2022-23 for the Rays and then the Mets, could give the current Mets bullpen a real boost.
Star of the Day:
David Wright, for his engaging pregame speech and evident joy in reminiscing about his terrific Mets career and his bond with fans. What, you thought we’d pick someone from this game?
Highlights
Mark Vientos brings home Brandon Nimmo! pic.twitter.com/wnUz6Mybjt
— SNY (@SNYtv) July 19, 2025
BRETT BATY LAUNCHES A HOME RUN!
David Wright approves! pic.twitter.com/EEopm2cRYs
— SNY (@SNYtv) July 19, 2025
Two strikeouts in a 1-2-3 inning for Brooks Raley in his return pic.twitter.com/RHjCTIsXaB
— SNY (@SNYtv) July 19, 2025
What's next
The Mets and Reds complete their weekend series on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is set for 1:40 p.m. on PIX.
David Peterson (6-4, 3.06 ERA) will take the mound while Andrew Abbott (8-1, 2.07 ERA) will climb the hill for Cincinnati.
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