The Mets offense couldn’t muster much of anything in a 3-1 loss in the team’s home series opener against the Houston Astros.
Here are the takeaways…
— Right-handed flamethrower Hunter Brown didn’t allow a single Mets baserunner until the third inning, when Marcus Semien drew a walk to lead off the frame.
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— Francisco Lindor led off the following inning with a single to notch the first Mets hit of the night. With one out, Carson Benge drove Lindor all the way home from first base with a double which clattered off the wall in center field. Benge moved up to third base on a Luis Robert Jr. ground out, but Jared Young flied out to left field to leave him on base with the Mets leading 1-0.
— Brown escaped a jam in the fifth, with the Mets putting runners on first and third with one out. A.J. Ewing grounded into a double play.
— Mets starter Christian Scott held the Astros to just one hit through five innings. However, in the sixth inning, after striking out Jeremy Pena to open the inning, Scott lost control, walking three straight batters to load the bases. Interim skipper Andy Green took the ball from his starter and called in lefty Nate Lavender from the bullpen. Lavender allowed his first runs (inherited, not earned) of 2026 when Daulton Varsho golfed a low breaking ball on an 0-2 count into right field to drive in two runners. The Astros tacked on a third run in the inning after Yainer Diaz poked a soft line drive into right field to beat New York’s defensive shift. The inning ended with the Mets trailing 3-1.
— After the wheels fell off in the sixth inning when all three Astros batters he walked came around to score, Scott’s final line was stamped in as 5.1 IP, one hit allowed, five walks allowed, two strikeouts, and three earned runs across 96 pitches.
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— Semien’s second single of the night finally knocked Brown out of the ballgame in the seventh inning. Houston’s ace pitched to the tune of 6.2 innings, 10 strikeouts, one walk, five hits, and one earned run allowed. Bryan Abreu came in to relieve Brown with two outs away, and his wild pitch allowed Semien to advance to second base, but Abreu battled back to strike out Brett Baty and end the seventh inning.
— Astros closer Josh Hader notched his 20th save of the season to put the nail in the coffin on a 3-1 Mets loss.
Game MVP: Hunter Brown
Brown was dominant all night, delivering a much-needed performance for an Astros team that is clinging onto a narrow lead in the AL West.
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Highlights
What’s next
The Mets continue their series with the visiting Astros on Saturday afternoon, with first pitch set for 4:10 p.m.
For the Mets, Nolan McLean (3.21 ERA, 1.14 WHIP in 148.2 IP) will toe the slab.
Houston’s starting pitcher has not yet been announced.
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