Keep Moving Forward, Simple As That
Mets' multiple missed opportunities must be a focal point of improvement
Bob Seger said it best: turn the page. Or was it night moves? Either way, the Mets need to leave any haunting memories from their opening series loss to the Phillies on that Amtrak heading north and start anew in Flushing on Thursday.
Missed opportunities have become a distinctive feature of this early-season Mets squad. As we said, haunting memories.
Ten men left on base in Monday’s loss and another 14 stranded on the basepaths in Wednesday’s defeat won’t get the job done in either (or any) scenario, nor is it conducive to what this team has been built to accomplish.
Left-hander David Peterson dug himself quite the hole to climb out of with a four-run first-inning barrage courtesy of Rhys Hoskins’ solo shot followed by Alec Bohm’s three-run homer.
Can’t leave four-seamers middle-middle, simple as that.
The Mets had their chances to chip away at the deficit. The leadoff man reached in every inning through the third. Multiple Metsies occupied bags in multiple innings moving forward. No dice.
Peterson found his rhythm and worked scorelessly through the fourth. The door was left open. But every time the Mets tried walking through it they tripped over their own feet on the way in.
Luis Guillorme, Brandon Nimmo, and Francisco Lindor all reached base in the fourth to load the bases for Michael Conforto, who struck out looking at a gorgeous Aaron Nola knuckle-curve.
Jacob Barnes’ tried his hand at cleaning up Peterson’s two-on none-out mess in the fifth but J.T. Realmuto made that a moot point with a three-run homer to extend the Phils’ lead to 7-1.
There were signs of life moving forward — trailing 7-1 in the fifth is not insurmountable — yet still, nothing was cooking for the Metsies.
Guillorme and Lindor were both left stranded again in the sixth as neither Albert Almora, Nimmo, or Conforto could get the job done with none out and a little momentum building.
Scooter finished his day 0-for-5 with nine left on base. Oof.
Mets manager Luis Rojas noted Peterson’s rough opening frame and encouraging bounceback, applauding the “plenty of chances” he gave the Mets by keeping things within reach.
“We did build the situations,” Rojas said. “We just didn’t get big hits to get back in there.”
Conforto expressed similar thoughts.
“We’ve got a lot of talent and that’s a great thing, but we’ve gotta go out there and execute.”
These guys know what the job entails and the Mets will continue to have their chances. It’ll just be up to them to cash in on them. Room for improvement. Onward and upward.
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