CHICAGO — One evening after hitting a go-ahead residence run to finish a heroic comeback, Francisco Alvarez hit one other. However there was no getting back from this one.
The unraveling began lengthy earlier than Alvarez took left-hander Matthew Boyd deep within the fifth inning. Jonah Tong was lit up within the third inning, surrendering 4 runs to get the hook earlier than even getting an out. Finally, the Mets misplaced 10-3 on Wednesday evening at Wrigley Subject, however not earlier than utilizing the 2 pitchers who have been tentatively scheduled to pitch Saturday, and but once more, committing sloppy, basic errors.
Fortunately, the Cincinnati Reds misplaced in further innings to the Pittsburgh Pirates for the second evening in a row, serving to the Mets keep within the Wild Card standings. Nevertheless, the Arizona Diamondbacks are making a push. The Reds and Diamondbacks every personal tiebreakers over the Mets.
The bullpen needed to cowl 21 outs, solely 24 hours after having to get 23 in aid of David Peterson. The Mets known as on right-hander Clay Holmes and left-hander Sean Manaea, two starters who’ve been making tandem begins as of late. They availed themselves, informing administration the evening prior.
“They volunteered yesterday, [saying], ‘Hey, if you guys need us,’ so we appreciate that,” mentioned supervisor Carlos Mendoza. “It says a lot about them, and here we were today, needing them.”
Having each pitched final Sunday earlier than departing for Chicago, Holmes and Manaea would have thrown bullpen classes Wednesday afternoon anyway. The Mets’ weekend pitching plans are nonetheless up within the air, however weren’t affected by their appearances. Utilizing them confirmed urgency on the a part of the Mets (81-77), nevertheless it additionally confirmed how dire the pitching scenario is on the improper time of 12 months.
“We’ll piece it together,” Mendoza mentioned. “We’ll continue to find ways to get 27 outs.”
It’s not simple to seek out 27 outs when your beginning pitcher is a 22-year-old rookie studying on the job.
In simply his fifth massive league begin, Tong obtained assist from the protection within the first inning to maintain the sport scoreless, with heart fielder Tyrone Taylor nailing the runner at residence for the second out. It was a powerful throw by Taylor, who was activated off the injured record Wednesday afternoon, and an ideal tag by Alvarez on the plate. Initially, Michael Busch was dominated protected, coming residence on a single up the middle by Moises Ballesteros, however the Mets challenged the decision and it was overturned after a assessment.
Tong retired the facet so as within the second, and for a second, issues gave the impression to be going properly for the Mets.
That didn’t final lengthy.
The Cubs (89-69) loaded the bases on the right-handed Tong, and Ian Happ scored two with a double to proper. There have been two balls down the left facet Mark Vientos did not get to. Earlier than lengthy, it was 4-0 and left-hander Richard Lovelady got here in to alleviate the Tong (2-3), who gave up a career-high seven hits and 5 earned runs in solely two innings.
“I just didn’t get the job done,” Tong mentioned. “Tough first, but a huge play by Tyrone. I thought I figured it out in the second, but they got to me.”
With a 7.71 ERA, Tong appears to have given the Mets all he’s able to for now. Whereas the long run is brilliant, the current is as a lot of a query for him as it’s for the Mets. He’s given up 5 runs in two of his 5 begins, and has been unable to raise his fastball at occasions. With out his greatest pitch, he needs to be going to the breaking ball, however Tong has been sluggish to regulate.
It’s comprehensible provided that he’s nonetheless creating. Tong hasn’t at all times wanted to make use of his breaking pitches since minor league hitters typically couldn’t contact his fastball. This isn’t the time of 12 months for a group to be taking an opportunity on a creating prospect, however in addition they don’t have any alternate options.
“When you’ve got some of these guys going through it at the big-league level, and especially where we’re at [in the standings], you run that through that risk,” Mendoza mentioned. “It’s hard to put it on them or blame them. This is where we are now.”
Rookies will pitch the following two days, with right-hander Nolan McLean closing out the collection Thursday evening at Wrigley Subject, and right-hander Brandon Sproat opening the ultimate collection of the common season Friday evening in Miami.
The Mets got here fully unglued after Alvarez minimize the result in 6-2. Vientos made an error on a routine ground-ball, and a wild pitch led to a debacle on the plate with Alvarez flipping a ball previous Holmes. Two extra runs scored.
“It’s not for lack of effort,” shortstop Francisco Lindor mentioned of the errors which have plagued the Mets since final week.
Nevertheless, the supervisor sees the problem in a different way.
“This is the big leagues and they’re routine plays,” Mendoza mentioned. “We expect those to be made and they know that.”
By the point Juan Soto hit his forty third residence run of the season within the high of the eighth, the sport was properly out of hand.
Initially Printed: September 24, 2025 at 11:05 PM EDT
