The Mets' 8th-inning rally fell short in a 4-3 loss to the Giants on Aug 3. Despite a Juan Soto homer, the defeat tightens the heated NL East race.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a weekend of wild swings at Citi Field, and Sunday's finale felt like a microcosm of the whole series. After a massive offensive outburst on Saturday, the Mets' bats went quiet until it was almost too late, as a furious eighth-inning rally fell just short in a 4-3 loss to the San Francisco Giants. The defeat hands the series to the visitors and tightens the NL East race to a razor's edge.
With his 250th career home run on Saturday, Pete Alonso is now just two long balls away from tying Darryl Strawberry's franchise record of 252.
The Mets found themselves in a 4-1 hole heading into the bottom of the eighth, with only a Juan Soto solo blast (his 26th of the year) to show for their efforts. But they wouldn't go quietly. RBI singles from Francisco Lindor and Brandon Nimmo brought the tying run to third, sending a jolt through the Citi Field crowd. The magic ran out there, however, as Giants closer Camilo Doval slammed the door with a perfect ninth. Starter Frankie Montas battled for 5.2 innings but was tagged with four runs (three earned), while the bullpen trio of Tyler Rogers, Reed Garrett, and Edwin Díaz were flawless, combining for 3.1 scoreless frames to keep the game within reach.
While Sunday's result was a disappointment, Saturday's 12-6 victory provided a truly historic moment. Pete Alonso launched his 250th career home run, a majestic 427-foot shot that helped snap a four-game skid. The blast moves the Polar Bear into sole possession of second place on the Mets' all-time list, just two behind Darryl Strawberry's franchise record of 252. With 22 homers on the season, every at-bat for Alonso is now must-see TV as he closes in on becoming the Mets' new home run king.
The front office is clearly focused on both the present and the future. This weekend saw the official debut of reliever Tyler Rogers, who pitched a scoreless inning Saturday against his former Giants teammates. The team also announced its 2025 draft class, a 20-player group heavily tilted toward pitching, led by first-round pick Mitch Voit. Meanwhile, the trade rumor mill continues to churn. Reports indicate the Diamondbacks are scouting the Mets' well-regarded farm system, but the focus for New York remains on adding another outfielder and more pitching—perhaps even an internal option like Nolan McLean, who boasts a 2.57 ERA at Triple-A Syracuse.
This loss stings, no doubt, especially dropping a home series. But the Mets are still just a half-game out of first place with nearly two months of baseball left. With Pete Alonso chasing history, the bullpen looking deeper with the addition of Tyler Rogers, and the front office clearly active in shoring up the roster for the stretch run, there's no time to dwell. This team has shown its fight. Now they just need to turn these close losses into wins and reclaim their spot atop the NL East.
