The Mets were defeated by the Marlins 2-0 on Sunday afternoon at Citi Field.
New York has now been shutout 11 times this season.
Here are the takeaways…
— The Mets figure to have plenty of innings available post trade deadline, and Robert Stock put together a strong audition in his first big-league start since 2021. The journeyman 36-year-old right-hander cruised through the Marlins lineup, holding them to just one run on three hits while striking out four in a career-high five innings.
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Stock retired the first six batters he faced before giving up a leadoff single in the third. He allowed a two-out to put two on, but was able to strike Kyle Stowers out to strand the pair. The righty followed that with a perfect fourth, but the Marlins were able to finally break the scoreless tie in the fifth on a Joe Mack solo homer.
Stock got the next two batters to fly out, ending his return the big-league level on a high note.
— Three of the Mets’ top bullpen trade pieces got one last audition ahead of Monday’s trade deadline. Brooks Raley needed just eight pitches to breeze through the top of the sixth, Luke Weaver followed suit with a nine-pitch seventh, then Huascar Brazoban struck out two in a clean eighth.
The scoreless day from the bullpen ended when Devin Williams gave up a run in the ninth.
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— Unfortunately, New York’s offense couldn’t get much of anything going again, as their struggles continued facing off with Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara. The right-hander threw even better than Stock, holding the Mets to just four baserunners (two hits, two walks) while striking out five over the first five innings.
— They finally pieced together a rally following the seventh inning stretch, as the first three reached to chase Alcantara and load the bases, but back-to-back strikeouts from Jorge Polanco and Francisco Alvarez and an A.J. Ewing fly out squandered the massive opportunity.
— The Mets had another big chance after getting a leadoff double down the right-field line from Francisco Lindor, but the heart of the lineup was set down for a second straight wasted chance.
— New York did bring the tying run to the plate after Pete Fairbanks issued a pair of walks in the ninth, but Ewing flew out to left-center to end the game. They stranded a total of 10 runners as a team and finished an ugly 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position on the day.
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— While the offense wasn’t there again, Carson Benge enjoyed another strong day with the glove in right field. He raced back to make two spectacular catches and rob the Marlins of extra base-hits, helping Stock in the second and then Weaver leading off the seventh.
Game MVP: Joe Mack
The young catcher’s solo homer gave the Marlins the early lead, which held up.
Highlights
What’s next
The Mets are off Monday but will certainly be busy ahead of the 6 p.m. trade deadline.
They’ll then return to action Tuesday at 6:40 p.m. against the Guardians.
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