It’s tough to diagnose exactly what’s wrong with the Mets at the moment, but despite the problems at the plate and on the mound, the one thing the team still has is resolve.
Down by three runs to the Los Angeles Angels in the bottom of the seventh, the Mets put together a three-run rally with Juan Soto driving in two with a single off left-hander Reid Detmers to tie the game. Catcher Francisco Alvarez, called up earlier in the day from Triple-A Syracuse, continued the comeback effort in the eighth, helping the Mets score two more to take the first game of the series 7-5 on Monday night at Citi Field.
Alvarez, once considered a rising franchise cornerstone, was sent to the minors in June in the midst of a career-worst season. However, he progressed quicker than the club anticipated, prompting them to bring him back to the big leagues after only 19 games with Syracuse. It proved to be a tougher game for the backstop than anticipated with six pitchers that he had to work with throughout the night, yet he still managed to go 1-for-2 with two walks and two runs scored.
“The way he fought every pitch, the way he presented every pitch framing-wise, a play at the plate, and then just his ability to guide those guys coming out of the bullpen today, you’ve got to give him a lot of credit there,” said manager Carlos Mendoza. “Not only offensively, but defensively, staying with those guys, keeping the game right there and giving the offense a chance.
“Overall, it was a really good, complete game for him.”
The fans welcomed the 23-year-old back to the bigs with a standing ovation in his first at-bat. It was a gesture that was appreciated by the entire team.
“All the struggles that I had earlier in the season, and the way that they kept supporting me, the way that they received me today through all the hard work that I’ve been putting in — it felt really special to get that reception from the fans,” Alvarez said through a team translator. “I’m super appreciative of all the fans here.”
“I didn’t think anything of it until he was walking towards the plate, and then everybody was on their feet,” Mendoza added. “Shout out to the fans today because that was special. I feel like it meant something for him, and it meant something for all of us in the dugout.”
Left-hander Ty Anderson pitched into the seventh inning for the Halos (49-51), leaving the game with runners on first and second with no outs. Detmers came in to face the top of the order and beaned Brandon Nimmo to load the bases for Francisco Lindor, who beat out a double play to score Alvarez, and stole second to put runners on second and third.
All Soto needed to do was put the ball in play. He poked a single right between the shortstop and second baseman to clear the bases.
Brooks Raley pitched a scoreless eighth to give the Mets a chance to win, and the Mets repaid him with two runs in the bottom of the inning to give him the win, his first since returning from a year-long Tommy John layoff (1-0).
Brett Baty (1-for-3, two-run home run) drew a one-out walk from right-hander Jose Fermin (2-1) to bring up Alvarez. The catcher uncorked a long double, sending right fielder Chris Taylor crashing into the wall in right-center. Baty held up at third, and the Mets pinch-hit for Luisangel Acuña with Ronny Mauricio as the Angels went to the bullpen for left-hander Brock Burke.
Mauricio hit a ground ball right to Yoan Moncada at third, but his throw home was wild and forced catcher Logan O’Hoppe off the plate. Baty scored and Alvarez went to third, where he was then able to score on a sacrifice fly.
Edwin Diaz struck out the top of the order to shut the door and earn his 20th save.
Kodai Senga, making only his second start since returning from a hamstring strain, was restricted to only 70-75 pitches. Though his forkball got plenty of swings and misses, he also missed his location with it, walking three hitters.
The walks proved costly when they put a dent in his pitch count, but a third-inning walk issued to Mike Trout was even more costly. With two outs and two on, it extended the inning and gave the Angels a chance to build on their 1-0 lead. They scored three more times to go up 4-0.
“With two outs there, maybe he’s pitching carefully,” Mendoza said. “Then they got him.”
It was Senga’s last inning, with the Mets pulling him after 73 pitches, four earned runs, three walks and five strikeouts. The ace was unhappy with his mechanics and got inside of his own head, saying “used [his] brain quite a bit.”
“I think ideally, you’re so dominant that you don’t have to think about anything, but obviously, that’s not easy,” he said through translator Hiro Fujiwara. “Not thinking too much about myself, and thinking about the opposing hitters is the most important.”