The second half of the Mets‘ 2025 season started on a high note, but the high didn’t final.
Left-hander Sean Manaea made his return to Citi Area on Friday night time in opposition to the Cincinnati Reds, hanging out the facet within the first inning and strolling off the mound because the ballpark audio system performed “The Boys are Back in Town.” Juan Soto hit a house run off of left-hander Nick Lodolo within the backside of the inning, and a packed crowd roared.
It wasn’t lengthy earlier than they began booing.
Proper-hander Alex Carrillo gave up three residence runs, two within the sixth inning, for a complete of 5 earned runs. It put the Mets in a gap that they weren’t capable of climb out of, shedding 8-4.
Carrillo (0-1) was pitching in solely his third Main League recreation. A 28-year-old who grew up in California earlier than taking part in within the Mexican Leagues and the unbiased Frontier League, the Mets signed him after seeing him play in Venezuela in a winter league recreation final yr. With Manaea on a pitch rely, the Mets eliminated him after 4 innings and 69 pitches. He exited with a 2-1 lead, nevertheless it was quickly erased.
Not wanting to make use of a high-leverage reliever within the center innings, the Mets went to Carrillo. With two outs within the prime of the fifth, Carrillo hit T.J. Friedl with a pitch earlier than throwing two straight fastballs to Matt McLain, who despatched the second over the left subject fence to provide the Reds a 3-2 lead.
Within the prime of the sixth, Austin Hays led off along with his second residence run of the sport, homering on the primary pitch he noticed from Carrillo. Spencer Steer walked on 5 pitches, and after getting the primary out, Carrillo threw a fastball on 1-0 to Tyler Stephenson, who put it into the seats in left-center subject to extend the Cincinnati result in 6-2.
All three residence runs got here off four-seam fastballs. Carrillo hit 98 within the fifth inning however couldn’t keep his velocity or his motion on the pitch. Supervisor Carlos Mendoza made no transfer for a reliever after the house run, lastly changing him with left-hander Brandon Waddell after he walked the subsequent batter, Jose Trevino.
Waddell gave up a run earlier than getting an out, and misplaced the strike zone with two outs within the eighth, hitting Freidl and strolling the subsequent three hitters.
Manaea restricted the Reds to just one run on 4 hits, strolling one and hanging out six in his second begin of the season, however after he left the sport the Mets weren’t ready so as to add on any runs.
Nick Lodolo held them to 2 earned over seven innings within the win (7-6).
Followers can boo all they need on the considered having to observe two Triple-A pitchers throwing meatballs to a crew combating for a Wild Card berth, however the Mets are utilizing Carrillo and Waddell as a result of they assume they may also help the crew win video games. Nevertheless, attempting to squeeze 5 innings out of two mop-up relievers with a rested bullpen was an odd resolution, however what’s much more unusual is the dearth of offense coming from what needs to be a deep lineup.
The Mets scored two within the backside of the ninth, making the most of a sloppy Cincinnati protection and firing up the followers who stayed for all 9. However the rally fell brief.
If this recreation was an indication of what’s to come back within the second half, the Mets (55-43) will likely be battling with groups just like the Reds (51-47) for a Wild Card spot as an alternative of constructing a push for a pennant.
