Who knows how many playoff teams in baseball history endured multiple six-game losing streaks in a season, but the Mets are now hellbent on joining that particular club.
Any feelings of a turnaround after Pete Alonso's franchise record-tying home run on Saturday night were completely wiped out by the seventh inning, as self-inflicted wounds doomed the Mets in a frustrating 7-4 loss to the red-hot Brewers at American Family Field.
The latest letdown can be attributed to poor defense and bullpen hiccups, and a handful of players were deserving of blame for the untimely miscues.
"We continue to make mistakes. We’re not playing good baseball, especially when you are playing against teams like this," Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said afterward. "You give them extra outs, extra bases, they are going to make you pay and that happened today. Not good enough."
Francisco Lindor was responsible for the first blunder in the second inning, as he misplayed a high chopper up the middle with two outs and the bases loaded that allowed a pair of runs to score. He ultimately finished 0-for-5 in the leadoff spot with three strikeouts.
While the Mets held a one-run lead entering the bottom of the seventh, it didn't take long for the Brewers to take full advantage of some back-breaking gaffes.
With two outs and a runner on third in a 4-4 tie, Ronny Mauricio botched a two-out grounder at third that allowed the Brewers' go-ahead run to cross home. Then, after reliever Ryan Helsley believed he induced an inning-ending flyout of William Contreras, the umpire ruled a pitch clock violation that kept the at-bat alive.
On the very next pitch, Contreras crushed a fastball into the left field bullpen for a two-run homer. The bizarre sequence ultimately placed the Brewers ahead by three, and the Mets just weren't equipped to orchestrate a late-inning rally.
"It is what it is when it comes to the field. I should've made my play," Lindor said. "I take all the pride in defense… I have to do better. I have to pick up my teammates and be there for my teammates, and finish the plays. Bottom-line, I have to be better. They're a really good team. They do things right."
Of course, the Mets remain in control of their postseason destiny. In spite of the vexing losing skid, they still hold a 2.5-game lead for the third NL wild-card spot. They're aiming much higher, though, and the rival Phillies now own a 4.5-game lead for first place in the NL East.
The Mets have lost seven straight games before — that downward spiral came in mid-June, when the sense of urgency to turn things around wasn't nearly as dire. But a sweep at the hands of the Brewers would place them back at that unlucky seven mark and further raise panic meters.
"They know we're better… right now, we're not getting the job done," Mendoza said. "We’re not playing well… We have a lot of talent and we will turn it around. I know I sound like a broken record, but there’s too much talent there. Going to continue to push those guys and support them. Keep pushing them."
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