No one thought the winning would go on forever, right?
After back-to-back victories over Minnesota, the Mets got another dose of reality on Friday, dropping their series-opener to Colorado, 4-3, at Citi Field.
For those keeping score, that’s now losses in 13 of their last 15, as the Mets seem to be in an unlikely race to the bottom of the NL East with the Phillies.
This one involved some late drama, as the Mets rallied for two runs in the bottom of the eighth to pull within a run, but with two on and one out, Mark Vientos lined into a double play to end the threat.
And they failed to take advantage of a game against a Rockies team that entered 10-16.
The issues that have plagued the Mets, who dropped to 9-17, so far this season haven’t gone away and it became obvious Friday that Juan Soto’s return alone won’t fix the lineup.
After scoring 10 runs on Thursday, their bats went silent again versus right-hander Michael Lorenzen, who entered the game with a 7.48 ERA, but limited the Mets to just one run over seven innings.
In the process, Lorenzen outdueled Freddy Peralta, who dropped his third straight start.
Peralta wasn’t bad — two runs in 5 ⅔ innings — but he wasn’t nearly enough to overcome another disappearing act from the offense.
They threatened in the bottom of the eighth — with Lorenzen replaced by right-hander Jaden Hill.
Ronny Mauricio and Bo Bichette singled to lead off the inning, but Soto lined out to first.
Francisco Alvarez singled to left to load the bases for Brett Baty, who delivered a two-run single to center to make it 4-3.
Vientos’ line-drive double play kept them a run short and the Mets have scored more than three runs just three times in their last 15 games — as they now deal with life without Francisco Lindor, out indefinitely with a left calf strain.
The Mets went ahead in the bottom of the second when Baty, heating up offensively, doubled to right to open the inning and moved to third on Vientos’ infield single.
With runners on the corners, Marcus Semien hit into a double play, scoring Baty to put the Mets up, 1-0.
Colorado threatened to score in the third, as ex-Yankee prospect TJ Rumfield and Tyler Freeman opened with singles.
Troy Johnston followed with a fly ball down the left field line, where Carson Benge made an outstanding sliding grab for the first out to save at least one run.
It was the rookie’s second excellent diving catch in as many games and Peralta retired the next two batters.
The Rockies tied it in the fifth, loading the bases on a pair of singles and a walk before Rumfield hit a slow roller in front of the plate to score Brenton Doyle.
The Mets fell behind in the sixth when Peralta walked Kyle Karros and Ezequiel Tovar reached on a slow roller to third.
Jake McCarthy hit a run-scoring double to right-center to put the Mets in a 2-1 hole.
With the infield in, Peralta fanned Doyle and was lifted for Sean Manaea, who struck out Mickey Moniak.
But Manaea faltered in the seventh, as he gave up a two-run single to Johnston that made it 4-1.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: nypost.com
