TORONTO — The Mets’ surge over the last two weeks has been predicated upon one solid starting pitching performance after another, but David Peterson dropped the baton Tuesday night.
Maybe Peterson was just due, after a stretch of excellence since late July reflected by the Mets winning six straight games he started.
Peterson, in his shortest start since July 6, lasted only 4 ¹/₃ innings and allowed five runs, four of which were earned, on eight hits with two strikeouts.
He hadn’t surrendered more than three earned runs in a start since losing to the Braves on July 28.
“I needed to stop what they were doing faster,” said Peterson, referring to a third inning in which the Blue Jays sent nine batters to the plate and scored four runs.
Peterson still leads the rotation with a 2.98 ERA, but another pitcher performing at a high level, Sean Manaea, is set to receive the start in Wednesday’s rubber game.
Luis Severino and Jose Quintana are behind Manaea, and Tylor Megill has been respectable for the club in his three starts subbing for Paul Blackburn.
“[Peterson] just didn’t have it,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “Especially the fastball command, there were some ball-out-of-hand, non-competitive pitches … the few times he got ahead he had a hard time putting hitters away.”
“Sometimes the offense is going to struggle and you really can’t control when that is going to happen throughout a year,” Brandon Nimmo said. “We would love to be doing better, but unfortunately baseball doesn’t work that way. The thing that I am most confident in is that everybody in here will continue to work and try to become the best versions of themselves for right now.”
Nimmo, dropped from third to the No. 5 spot in the batting order, stroked an RBI single in the first that gave the Mets a 1-0 lead.
Francisco Lindor and Jesse Winker singled in succession to begin the game against Chris Bassitt before Nimmo delivered with two outs for his 75th RBI of the season.
Nimmo, who owns a .556 OPS since the All-Star break, said the drop to fifth in the batting order doesn’t bother him.
“I’ve told Mendoza this whole year I don’t really care where I hit because the game is going to dictate the situations,” Nimmo said.
Mark Vientos’ fielding error on Ernie Clement’s grounder leading off the bottom of the second led to the Blue Jays scoring an unearned run.
Peterson was charged for two wild pitches in the inning and Leo Jimenez’s RBI single tied it 1-1.
“It started with the error and then they put some good at-bats together,” Peterson said.
The Blue Jays jumped on Peterson for four runs in the third to take a 5-1 lead.
Daulton Varsho bunted for a single leading off and Peterson’s glove flip of the ball to first base was wild, allowing Varsho to reach second.
Alejandro Kirk’s ensuing RBI double gave the Blue Jays the lead.
Davis Schneider delivered the inning’s big hit, a two-run triple, after Clement’s single put runners on the corners.
Peterson plunked Jimenez and Joey Loperfido’s RBI single widened the Mets’ deficit to four runs.
Jose Iglesias’ pinch-hit double leading off the seventh led to the Mets’ second run.
Brendon Little’s wild pitch moved Iglesias to third before Tyrone Taylor walked.
Kirk’s passed ball allowed Iglesias to score. Taylor was left in scoring position at third base as Pete Alonso struck out looking.
Alonso entered the night with an anemic .185/.313/.333 slash line in September with only one homer.
“We’re grinding,” Mendoza said. “It’s one of those stretches where we’re not putting much together but we’re still finding ways to get the job done. That wasn’t the case today, but you have to give credit to some of the pitchers that we face.”
Chris Bassitt Dominates Former Team
The Blue Jays’ offense wasn’t the only factor in their victory. Chris Bassitt, who pitched for the Mets last season, had one of his best outings in recent weeks, allowing just one run in six innings while striking out eight. He yielded five hits (three in the opening frame), walked one and struck out eight.
“The thing with knowing Bassitt well is knowing that if he’s hitting his spots, he’s really tough,” Nimmo said of his 2022 teammate. “When he’s on and he’s got his velocity like he did today — we’ve seen it over the course of the season — he’s a really good pitcher.”
Mets Look to Bounce Back Against Manaea
The Mets, now tied for the final National League wild-card spot, will look to bounce back in Wednesday’s series finale. Sean Manaea will take the mound for the Mets, hoping to right the ship after Peterson’s disappointing outing. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays will be looking to secure a series victory with Bowden Francis on the mound.
The Mets are hoping to regain their momentum as they head into the final stretch of the season. Their offense will need to find its rhythm again if they want to secure a playoff berth. But even with the loss, the Mets remain in contention, and with Manaea on the mound, they’ll be looking to finish strong in Toronto.
Looking Ahead
The Mets have a crucial week ahead, with a series against the Phillies on the road followed by a home series against the Nationals. They will need to find a way to get back on track and start winning consistently if they want to make the playoffs. The team’s offense will be key, but their pitching will also need to be solid if they want to make a run.
While the Mets are in a tight race, they are confident in their ability to make the playoffs. They have a talented team, and with the right adjustments, they can overcome this recent slump and make a strong push for the postseason. The team’s focus now is on staying positive, continuing to work hard, and believing in themselves.
