Juan Soto's 9th-inning HR broke up Gavin Williams' no-hit bid, but the Mets still fell to the Guardians 4-1 on Aug 6, extending their losing streak.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
For eight agonizing innings, it looked like insult would be added to injury. As the Cleveland Guardians cruised toward a series sweep, their starter Gavin Williams was cruising toward history. But with one out in the bottom of the ninth, Juan Soto did what he does best, launching a solo home run to break up the no-hit bid and save the Mets from a historic embarrassment. While the homer provided a fleeting moment of relief, it was the only bright spot in a 4-1 loss that capped a dismal homestand and extended the team's losing streak to eight of their last nine games.
You never want to be on the wrong side of history. I just wanted to put a good swing on it.
Gavin Williams was masterful, carving up the Mets lineup for 8.2 innings. He was just two outs from immortality when Soto stepped to the plate on his 126th pitch and crushed the dream. Until that moment, the Citi Field crowd was on edge, facing the prospect of the team's first no-hitter since 2015. On the other side, David Peterson was decent but not good enough, surrendering four runs over six innings, including homers to David Fry and Angel Martinez. The loss finalized a brutal three-game sweep at the hands of the Guardians, leaving a sour taste as the team packs its bags.
This isn't just a bad series; it's a troubling trend. The Mets are now 1-4 to kick off August and have lost eight of their last nine contests. During this stretch, the club is averaging 5.4 runs scored but allowing a whopping 6.4 runs per game. The front office is tinkering, recalling RHP Justin Hagenman from Syracuse while optioning Dom Hamel, a small move that signals the search for any arm that can provide stability. Incredibly, despite the freefall, the Mets remain just 2.5 games behind the Phillies in the NL East, a fact that provides both hope and frustration.
If you're looking for a reason to be optimistic, turn your eyes to the farm system. No. 4 prospect Carson Benge is on an absolute tear at Double-A, smashing his fifth home run in six games and boasting a 1.132 OPS. In Triple-A, Brandon Sproat continues to impress, striking out nine in his latest scoreless start. While FanGraphs' latest prospect rankings saw Sproat dip from No. 18 to No. 31 overall, he and Jonah Tong remain in the top 100, and the system welcomed three new prospects, showcasing improving organizational depth. The future may be bright, but the present is what needs fixing.
The loss stings, and a near no-hitter on home turf is a tough pill to swallow. But the season is far from over. All eyes now turn to Milwaukee, where ace Kodai Senga will take the mound. It's a classic stopper situation, and the Mets desperately need him to halt this slide and remind everyone that despite this brutal stretch, the NL East is still within reach.
