Juan Soto, Mets offenses struggles continue in series-opening loss to Red Sox
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets.BOSTON — Good pitching alone will only get the Mets so far this season.As manager Carlos Mendoza’s crew has been reminded all too often lately, there is a need to drive in runners on base.
And an occasional jolt over the fence wouldn’t hurt, either.The team’s offensive doldrums carried into a third straight series, in a 3-1 loss to the Red Sox at Fenway Park on Monday.In losing for the fourth time in five games, the Mets were 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.The Mets have scored three runs or fewer in six straight games.Juan Soto, who finished 1-for-10 this past weekend in the Subway Series, managed a single in four plate appearances on this night.
But Soto also hit into a double play to kill an early rally.Kodai Senga rebounded after a shaky beginning to finish at three earned runs allowed on five hits with five strikeouts and three walks over six innings.It marked the first time this season Senga surrendered three earned runs in a start.Senga fell into a quick 2-0 hole.
Jarren Duran opened with a leadoff double in the first and Rafael Devers walked before Alex Bregman’s groundout brought in the run from third.Trevor Story delivered a two-out RBI single to extend the lead.Duran’s RBI triple in the second gave the Red Sox a 3-0 lead.
Carlos Narváez walked before Duran, with two outs, jumped on a forkball and hit it into the right field corner.Tyrone Taylor’s RBI single in the third pulled the Mets within 3-1.Francisco Alvarez doubled leading off the inning.
Francisco Lindor walked following Taylor’s single, but Soto killed the inning by hitting into a double play.Pete Alonso’s second throwing miscue in as many nights gave the Red Sox a threat in the fourth.Alonso flipped over Senga’s head covering first base on Duran’s grounder, giving the Red Sox runners on the corners with two outs.
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