Mets lose 5 series in a row for 1st time in a decade, shut out by Reds
CINCINNATI (AP) — The New York Mets committed to paying nearly half a billion dollars in player contracts this offseason in their pursuit of a World Series title.
The problem is it’s not paying off.
For the first time since 2012, the Mets have dropped five series in a row. The Cincinnati Reds erupted Thursday for four first-inning runs against Kodai Senga and beat New York 5-0, taking two of three in the series. Spencer Steer added an insurance solo shot in the fifth inning.
Jonathan India, Jake Fraley and Tyler Stephenson each had two hits for the Reds (1621), who sent the Mets (1820) to their fourth loss in five games and 13th in 17.
New York has been shut out seven times, one fewer than all of last season. Cincinnati pitchers had just one previous shutout this year, on April 15 against Philadelphia.
“Hats off to all the teams that shut us out,” Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor said. “I wish I had the answer for that one.”
New York has scored two runs in its last 19 innings
“When you don’t score runs, it’s impossible to win a game,” Mets manager Buck Showalter said.
New York’s previous series losses during the skid were to Washington, Atlanta, Detroit and Colorado.
On a Cincinnati bullpen day, Derek Law pitched into the second inning, followed by Ben Lively, Lucas Sims and Kevin Herget, who logged his first career save. Lively (1-0), promoted from Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday, allowed four hits with a strikeout over three innings to earn his first win since his rookie season in 2017.
The group didn’t allow an extra-base hit until Francisco Álvarez’s one-out double off Herget in the seventh. Right fielder Henry Ramos threw Álvarez out at the plate trying to score on Lindor’s single to preserve the shutout.
After giving up two hits over six scoreless innings in his previous start against Colorado on May 5, Senga (4-2) threw 37 pitches while allowing five hits in Cincinnati’s four-run first inning, including four hits and a walk with two outs that produced all four runs. Kevin Newman capped the rally with a bases-loaded, two-run single. The Reds sent nine batters to the plate in the inning.
“It has been our identity, the next man up mentality,” Newman said. “The overall big team contributions. A pressure that we bring is taking the extra bag when we can. That’s big for us. Getting in scoring position when normally you wouldn’t puts us in a good position. The home runs are going to come.”