Pete Alonso’s struggles continue as Mets flounder against Marlins again
MIAMI — Pete Alonso may have been the Mets’ lone All-Star, but he certainly hasn’t played like one lately.
If his .576 OPS for July wasn’t a blemish enough entering Sunday, the slugging first baseman had three at-bats with runners in scoring position that could have altered the outcome against the Marlins, and failed to produce in all of them.
The Mets’ lineup has cooled after a torrid stretch, leaving Alonso’s shortcomings more noticeable.
On this day they lost 4-2 at loanDepot park and will now need a victory on Monday just to escape with a split in this four-game series against the NL’s worst team.
Alonso grounded out to leave the tying run at third base in the seventh after helping to stall a rally in the fifth by hitting into a fielder’s choice with two runners aboard.
He also flied out to end the first with a runner at second base.
He’s got only two homers in 67 at-bats this month.
He is 20-for-94 (.213) this season with runners in scoring position.
But Alonso would rather focus on the positives he is seeing at the plate.
“I feel like I have done a great job of commanding the strike zone,” Alonso said. “I feel like I’m swinging at quality pitches. I hit a couple of balls hard today and [Saturday], and I am just going to keep doing so. I feel like I’m in a really good spot right now.”
Alonso was asked what weight if any his impending free agency is placing on him.
“I don’t think I am putting any sort of pressure on myself at all,” he said. “When it comes to that, the only thing I am worried about is doing the best I can to win baseball games. Whatever happens with that happens.”
The Mets (50-48) have averaged only 2.3 runs in their three games since the All-Star break.
Their only victory in that stretch was a 1-0 game on Saturday.
Christian Scott departed Sunday after four innings and 75 pitches.
The rookie allowed three earned runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and two walks.
The long ball continues to be a factor for him: Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s three-run blast in the fourth accounted for the Marlins’ scoring against him.
Scott has allowed eight homers in 47 ¹/₃ innings.
The Mets took a 1-0 lead in the fourth following catcher Nick Fortes’ throwing error attempting to pick off Mark Vientos from first base.
The throw struck Vientos’ helmet — he was momentarily shaken up — and allowed Alonso to reach third.
Luis Torrens followed with a sacrifice fly. Alonso and Vientos singled in succession against Trevor Rogers to begin the rally.
Chisholm launched a three-run homer against Scott in the fourth that placed the Mets in a 3-1 hole.
After Xavier Edwards and Vidal Brujan each singled to begin the inning and advanced to second and third on Fortes’ sacrifice bunt, Chisholm hit a hanging slider into the right-field seats.
J.D. Martinez stroked an RBI single in the fifth that pulled the Mets within 3-2.
Harrison Bader reached on a two-base throwing error by Fortes and Brandon Nimmo walked before Martinez delivered for his 40th RBI of the season.
But the Mets missed a chance to at minimum tie the game, as Alonso hit into a fielder’s choice and Vientos struck out, leaving Nimmo at third base.
“We need [Alonso],” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “But I feel his at-bats have been better, he’s just not getting results. But he’s taken better swings, so I think he’s getting there.”
Adrian Houser escaped a jam in the sixth by getting Chisholm to hit into an inning-ending double play after Brujan had reached base with his third single of the day and Fortes walked.
Francisco Lindor got as far as third base in the seventh — he singled and advanced on a balk and error by Fortes on a return throw to the pitcher — but was left stranded as Alonso was retired.
Houser recorded two quick outs in the seventh before Jake Burger homered to extend the Marlins’ lead to 4-2.
It was the last batter Houser faced.
Jake Diekman got the final four outs without allowing a run.
“We were right there and we just couldn’t put anything together,” Mendoza said. “And obviously they got the big hit.”
