Mets fall to Braves 4-2 on June 26 despite a Pete Alonso RBI single and Francisco Lindor's efforts. While the rally fell short, a pitching storm is brewing.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a frustrating end to a hard-fought series at Citi Field. The Mets battled but ultimately fell 4-2 to the Atlanta Braves, splitting the four-game set with their division rivals. A late rally fell just short, leaving a bitter taste but also showcasing the team's resilience, a sentiment echoed by Francisco Lindor postgame: 'Tough one tonight, but we keep grinding. Love this team’s fight.'
Jonah Tong, the Mets' No. 4 prospect, struck out 11 over six shutout innings for Double-A Binghamton... surpassing 110 strikeouts for the season and leading all of Minor League Baseball.
The Mets found themselves in an early hole they couldn't quite dig out of. Starter Griffin Canning was solid but not spectacular, giving up a costly two-run homer to Marcell Ozuna in the third that proved to be the difference maker. He finished with three runs allowed over six innings. The offense was quiet against Braves starter Grant Holmes until the seventh, when Pete Alonso delivered a clutch two-run single to bring the Mets back to life. Francisco Lindor did his part, going 2-for-4 with a double, but a ninth-inning threat was snuffed out by Raisel Iglesias, who struck out Starling Marte and induced a groundout from Brett Baty to end the game.
While the game ended in a loss, the bullpen saw some significant movement. Right-hander Sean Reid-Foley made an impactful return from the injured list, firing a scoreless eighth inning with two strikeouts. His presence is a welcome sight, especially with the latest news on Max Kranick, who will be shut down for 3-4 weeks with a flexor strain. It's 'relatively good news' as it avoids a worst-case scenario, but it still thins the relief corps for now. To make room for Reid-Foley, lefty Josh Walker was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse, giving him a chance to reset.
If you're looking for a reason to be excited, look no further than Double-A Binghamton. Jonah Tong, the club's No. 4 prospect, is putting on an absolute clinic. On Wednesday night, he carved up the opposition, striking out 11 batters over six shutout innings. This performance pushed his season strikeout total over 110, the most of any pitcher in the Minor Leagues. Tong isn't just a prospect anymore; he's a phenomenon. With every dominant start, he makes a stronger case for a late-season promotion to bolster the big-league pitching staff when it matters most.
Losing the series finale to a rival always stings, but let's keep perspective. The Mets walk away with a series split and a solid 47-35 record. The fight is there, the bullpen just got a key piece back in Reid-Foley, and a potential ace is tearing up the minors. As Francisco Lindor said, the team keeps grinding. Now, they'll look to shake this one off and get ready for the next challenge, knowing reinforcements are both here and on the way.
