Mets lose a 7-6 heartbreaker to the Padres on July 29, 2025. Despite Mark Vientos' grand slam & Ronny Mauricio's HR, a late error ends the win streak.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
What a gut-wrenching way to end a seven-game win streak. One minute, Mark Vientos is launching his first career grand slam to give the Mets a commanding lead. The next, the bullpen is faltering, the defense is shaky, and despite a heroic ninth-inning homer from Ronny Mauricio, the team walks off the field with a 7-6 loss. It was a wild, frustrating night at Petco Park that reminded everyone just how cruel baseball can be.
Mark Vientos was robbed of a homer by Fernando Tatis Jr., only to come back and crush his first career grand slam. That's the kind of fight this team has, even in a loss.
The game was a true rollercoaster. After Fernando Tatis Jr. sensationally robbed Mark Vientos of a home run early on, Vientos got his revenge in the fifth inning with a monster grand slam that put the Mets up 5-1. The dugout was electric; an eighth straight win felt inevitable. But starter Frankie Montas couldn't escape the bottom half of the inning, getting tagged for four straight hits and five earned runs in just 4.1 innings. The bullpen, including Huascar Brazobán, couldn't stop the bleeding, and defensive lapses allowed the Padres to claw their way to a 6-5 lead. Just when all seemed lost, Ronny Mauricio blasted a solo shot in the top of the ninth to tie it up. But the hope was short-lived. In the bottom of the frame, Gregory Soto, in only his second appearance as a Met, made a critical throwing error that set the stage for Elias Díaz's walk-off single. A brutal end to an incredible run.
Let's take a deep breath. Yes, the loss stings, but let's not lose sight of the big picture. The Mets are still 62-45 and, most importantly, remain in first place in the NL East with a 1.5-game cushion over the Phillies. This team is built on the bats of stars like Pete Alonso (81 RBI) and Juan Soto (25 HR), and one bad bullpen night doesn't change the fact that they've been the hottest team in baseball. The key now is to not let one loss turn into two. This is a test of the team's resilience.
The good news is the Mets get to wash this bad taste out of their mouths immediately. They're right back at it against the Padres tonight, with Sean Manaea on the mound and betting odds favoring a New York bounce-back. While the present is tense, the future remains incredibly bright. The latest prospect rankings still have Jett Williams as the crown jewel, tearing it up in the upper minors and looking more MLB-ready by the day. He's joined by a promising group of arms in Jonah Tong, Nolan McLean, and Brandon Sproat. A projected 2028 lineup featuring Williams and Mauricio is enough to make any Mets fan excited for what's to come, even after a tough night.
Last night's loss was a gut punch, but this team has shown its resilience time and again. With Sean Manaea on the hill tonight, the Mets have a prime opportunity to wash away the sting of defeat and start a new streak. Let's see if they can get back on track and remind the league why they're the team to beat in the East.
