NEW YORK – The New york Mets suffered a 7-2 defeat against the San Francisco Giants on Sunday at Citi Field, raising concerns about starting pitcher Frankie Montas‘s performance and future in the rotation.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza indicated after the game that Montas’s next start is not guaranteed, stating, “He’s got to be better.He knows that.” Montas struggled through 3 ⅓ innings, allowing four runs on six hits, including a decisive three-run home run to Giants third baseman Rafael Devers in the third inning. He also walked Heliot Ramos before Devers’s home run, contributing to a 4-1 Giants lead.
Montas acknowledged his struggles,saying,”I missed a couple spots…[Including] the one to Devers. He put a good swing on it.” He also noted a lack of swings-and-misses after the second inning.
The Giants extended their lead in the fourth inning with back-to-back singles, followed by a fielding error by Pete Alonso on a grounder to first base, allowing casey Schmitt to score. Heliot Ramos then drove in another run with a grounder to shortstop, making it 6-1. Devers added an RBI single later in the inning.
The Mets’ offence, which had exploded for 12 runs on Saturday, managed only two runs against Giants left-hander Carson Whisenhunt, in his second major league start. Francisco Lindor hit a solo home run in the first inning, but the Mets didn’t record another hit until Jeff McNeil’s single in the fifth.
the game further unraveled in the ninth inning, with reliever Ryne Stanek allowing five runs before catcher Luis Torrens recorded the final out.
A radiant spot for the Mets was the performance of Austin Warren, recently recalled from Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday, who pitched four scoreless innings in relief of Montas. Warren, a right-handed pitcher, has appeared in 28 games for the Mets since being acquired from the Los Angeles Angels in 2023.
Mendoza stated he is currently satisfied with the pitching options available, including prospects Brandon Sproat and Nolan McLean, who are both at Triple-A Syracuse.”I like what we have here and I like having names like that at the Triple-A level. we believe in the guys we have here. We know they’re capable. They’ve shown it before and they will.”
The Mets finished the series against the Giants with a 1-2 record.Mark Vientos summarized the team’s outlook, stating, “I think we’ll put this series behind us.” The Mets’ record now stands at 22-26 as of May 26, 2024.
