The New York Mets (43-62) fell 4-3 to the Los Angeles Dodgers (67-38) on Saturday night at Citi Field, dropping the series after missed opportunities at the plate and costly defensive mistakes overshadowed another encouraging outing from rookie Nolan McLean. New York stranded 11 runners and went just 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position in a one-run defeat.
McLean looked sharp early, retiring the first six batters he faced before Kyle Tucker snapped his scoreless streak with a solo home run in the third inning. The Dodgers added two more runs in the frame after the Mets failed to turn two potential inning-ending double plays, including one extended by Brett Baty’s throwing error. Francisco Alvarez also allowed a passed ball that forced home another run. McLean settled back in afterward and escaped a bases-loaded jam in the sixth with a lineout double play, finishing with four runs allowed — two earned — on seven hits, two walks and seven strikeouts.
The Mets had plenty of chances against Yoshinobu Yamamoto but couldn’t capitalize. They stranded multiple runners in both the first and third innings before Bo Bichette delivered a two-out RBI single in the fifth to get New York on the board. Daniel Duarte continued his impressive start to the season with two scoreless relief innings, and Tyrone Taylor came off the bench to rip a two-run double in the eighth to cut the deficit to one. However, the rally ended there, and the Mets went quietly in the ninth.
The Mets will look to avoid a sweep in the series finale against the Dodgers on Sunday, with first pitch scheduled for 1:40 p.m. Freddy Peralta is slated to start for New York opposite Los Angeles right-hander Emmett Sheehan.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to kyle@fingerlakes1.com.