The New York Mets erased a five-run deficit but couldn’t finish the job, falling 7-6 in 10 innings to the Cleveland Guardians in the series opener on Monday night at Citi Field.
After tying the game in the eighth and loading the bases with one out in the ninth, New York came up empty when Pete Alonso struck out and Jeff McNeil lined out. In the 10th, Brett Baty’s throwing error on a bunt allowed the go-ahead run to score, and Gabriel Arias added a sacrifice fly for Cleveland. Baty’s RBI single in the bottom half brought the Mets within one, but Luis Torrens flied out to end it.
Alonso powered the comeback, driving in four runs and blasting his 251st career home run, a three-run shot in the sixth, putting him one shy of Darryl Strawberry’s franchise record. His RBI single in the eighth followed back-to-back hits from Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto, with Mark Vientos’ sacrifice fly tying the game.
Starter Sean Manaea was dominant early, tossing five shutout innings before unraveling in the sixth, allowing five runs on five hits. Arias’ three-run homer capped the rally that gave Cleveland a 5-0 lead.
Edwin Díaz kept the game alive in the ninth by escaping a no-out jam, striking out two to preserve the tie. But the Mets’ inability to cash in on key opportunities, combined with defensive miscues, spoiled an otherwise gritty comeback.
The loss drops the Mets to 63-50 as they continue the series Tuesday night with Clay Holmes set to face Cleveland’s Logan Allen at 7:10 p.m.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].