Mets doomed by latest flat performance in loss to last-place Rockie

DENVER This easy schedule is killing the Mets. Continuing a recent trend of playing down to their level of competition, the Mets wasted scoring chances in the mid-to-late innings Tuesday night in a 6-3 lo s to the Rockies at Coors Field. This latest flat performance by the Mets followed a weekend series in Anaheim in which they lost two of three games . The Mets also opened the post-All-Star break with a split over four games against the last-place Marlins. Overall, thats a 3-5 stretch against teams going nowhere. The Mets (59-54) need better as they attempt to keep up in the National League postseason race. Explore More With this lo s, they remained 1 games behind Atlanta for the third wild-card spot. Luis Severino #40 of the New York Mets pitches in the third inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on August 6, 2024. Getty Images The Mets had the NLs fourth-easiest remaining schedule as the day began according to Fangraphs. It has been a maddening stretch for manager Carlos Mendozas bunch. The Mets looked good in sweeping the Yankees two games (and winning all four this season) in the second Subway Series. There were also two victories in three games against a Twins team competing for the AL wild card. But against the le ser opponents, it has been mostly a disappointing offensive attack that is to blame. Fans look to catch a two-run home run off the bat of Colorado Rockies Jake Cave as New York Mets left fielder Brandon Nimmo, front, looks on in the fourth inning on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. AP In their four lo ses to the Angels and Marlins, they scored four runs or le s in each as was the case again Tuesday. We have still got an opportunity to win a series and thats what well try to do, Mendoza said. In his first career start at Coors Field (he had never faced the Rockies), Luis Severino allowed five runs one of which was unearned on eight hits with five strikeouts. Luis Severino saw nan uptick in his velocity. Getty Images Severinos misfortune was allowing an altitude-fueled homer in the fourth a fly ball by Jake Cave that cleared the left-field fence for two runs. Its really tough to pitch here, Severino said. I have to tip my cap to [German] Marquez and [Kyle] Freeland who had some good years here. Its unbelievable. The positive from Severinos view was he averaged 97.1 mph with his four-seam fastball a jump of more than one mph on his season average after lagging in velocity in his last start, in which he got battered by the Twins. Delivering insights on all things Amazins Sign up for Inside the Mets by Mike Puma, exclusively on Sports+ Thank you By clicking above you agree to the and . Enjoy this De'Anthony Melton Jersey Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! I was feeling pretty good, Severino said. Harrison Baders two-run single in the second gave the Mets a 2-0 lead. Pete Alonso walked to begin the rally and Jose Iglesias singled with one out before Bader blooped one over shortstop Ezequiel Tovars extended glove for two runs. The Rockies scored an unearned run against Severino in the second. New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) in the middle of the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con After Brendan Rodgers got plunked, Kris Bryant singled to right-center and Baders throw to third in an attempt to nail the lead runner was errant. Mark Vientos scrambled to retrieve the ball near the dugout, but in his haste dropped it. The ball rolled underneath the netting attached to the railing and dropped into the dugout, by rule allowing Rodgers to advance from third and Bryant from second. Colorado Rockies second baseman Brendan Rodgers (7) slides safely into second against New York Mets second baseman Jose Iglesias (11) in the fifth inning at Coors Field. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con Caves homer in the fourth was the highlight of a three-run inning that gave the Rockies a 4-2 lead. Elias Diaz stroked a two-out RBI double before Cave lofted a fly ball to left field that kept carrying until it had cleared the fence as Severino watched in disbelief. You could make a case that thats a ball that probably goes out only in this ballpark, Mendoza said. But he got a fastball up. Brandon Nimmo delivered an RBI single in the fifth that pulled the Mets within 4-3. Tyrone Taylor, , began the rally with a double. Mets first baseman Pete Alonso (20) strikes out in the third inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con After Nimmos single, Freeland departed the game with a blister on his index finger and reliever Justin Lawrence entered to retire J.D. Martinez for the final out in the fifth. After a nine-minute rain delay in the fifth during which the tarp wasnt placed on the field Severino returned to the mound and allowed an RBI double to Rodgers that widened the Mets deficit to 5-3. Tovars leadoff single following the rain delay started Severinos trouble in the inning. Alonso and Iglesias each singled to put runners on the corners in the sixth before pinch-hitter Je se Winker grounded into an inning-ending double play. Colorado Rockies catcher Elias Diaz (35) celebrates with first base coach Ronnie Gideon (53) after hitting an RBI single in the eighth inning against the New York Mets at Coors Field. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con Nimmos double in the seventh gave the Mets runners on second and third with two outs Francisco Lindor had singled ahead of Nimmo but another threat went unfulfilled as Martinez was retired. We just didnt hit many balls hard, Mendoza said. Josh Jackson Jersey