Mets honor David Wright but lose 5-2 to the Reds on July 20, 2025. Despite early offense from Vientos & Baty, the team stalls in another tough loss.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a day of jarring contrasts at Citi Field. One moment, 40,000 fans were on their feet, roaring with love and nostalgia as the Mets retired the number of their beloved Captain, David Wright. The next, they were groaning in familiar frustration as the current squad stumbled through another loss, falling 5-2 to the Cincinnati Reds for their third straight defeat.
It’s not a play we have on there... In that situation, it’s not the right decision, obviously.
The pre-game ceremony was everything fans could have hoped for, a perfect tribute to David Wright's legacy. The energy was electric, and it seemed to carry over into the first two innings. Mark Vientos drove in a run in the first, and Brett Baty launched a solo homer in the second, staking the Mets to a quick 2-0 lead. But the good feelings were fleeting. The Reds chipped away and then took the lead for good, powered by Jake Fraley's three-hit, two-RBI day. Starter Clay Holmes battled but couldn't escape the sixth, ultimately charged with five runs (four earned) in the loss. The offense, meanwhile, went cold at the worst times, going a dismal 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and leaving 11 men stranded.
This wasn't a blowout; it was a loss built on key mistakes and missed opportunities. A critical defensive misplay drew the ire of manager Carlos Mendoza, who bluntly stated the team doesn't practice that play for that situation. That single moment underscored a lack of sharpness that has defined this losing streak. Clay Holmes also pointed the finger at himself, acknowledging his failure to pitch deeper. 'I have to finish some outings there,' Holmes said. 'In this role, to finish outings is huge.' When starters can't provide length, it puts immense pressure on a taxed bullpen and an inconsistent offense, a formula for defeat the Mets know all too well.
If the present feels bleak, the future offers some tantalizing hope. Down in Triple-A, the recently demoted Francisco Alvarez is making a thunderous case for a quick return, smashing four home runs and collecting 10 RBIs in his last six games. He's not the only one shining; top prospects like Jonah Tong and Carson Benge are impressing, and the team officially signed its two-way first-round pick, Mitch Voit. Back in the bigs, the immediate hope rests on the arm of David Peterson, who gets the ball in the series finale. In a rotation struggling for length, Peterson has been the lone workhorse, recording an out in the seventh inning four times in the last 37 games—a feat no other Met starter has accomplished in that span.
The Mets now face a daunting task to avoid a sweep: sending David Peterson to the mound against Reds All-Star Andrew Abbott. It's a classic stopper-vs-ace matchup that will test the team's resolve. After a day celebrating a captain who embodied grit and clutch play, the current Mets have a chance to show some of their own. Can they salvage the series and stop the slide, or will the frustrations of a bittersweet Sunday carry over into a new week?
