by Buck Showalter’s solution for his struggling New York Mets seems simple enough.
“Win,” said the manager. “It’s not complicated”.
So far, it hasn’t worked much. The Mets fell eight games below .500, their worst mark of the season, after Joey Wiemer hit a two-run home run to center field in the sixth inning that lifted the Milwaukee Brewers to a 2-1 victory. Monday night.
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New York Mets pitcher Justin Verlander reacts during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Monday, June 26, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York, which won 101 games and shared the NL East title last year in Showalter’s first season, is 35-43 despite starting the season with a major league-record payroll of $355 million. The Mets have lost seven of nine and are 6-15 since completing a three-game sweep of Philadelphia on June 1, their most recent series victory.
“It’s always about now and what the hell happened last year or last week or tonight,” Showalter said. “You have to fix it.”
Francisco Lindor hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning for the Mets, who are 16 games behind NL East-leading Atlanta and are 8 1/2 games behind the third wild card. New York is eight games under .500 for the first time since ending the 2021 season with a 77-85 record.
“I don’t think anybody saw it coming, man,” said Mets starter Justin Verlander, who pitched five scoreless but plodding innings and has a 4.11 ERA in 10 starts since signing a two-year, $86.7 million contract. . “Disappointing. It’s disappointing for everyone in this room, I know. It’s disappointing for the fans. I just have to keep trying.”
GIANCARLO STANTON DOES NOT LEND TO YANKEE STADIUM BOO BIRDS IN THE MIDDLE OF A TERRIBLE FALL
Milwaukee Brewers’ Joey Wiemer (28) is congratulated by Willy Adames after hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Monday, June 26, 2023, in NY. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Colin Rea (4-4) retired his first eight batters for the Brewers and allowed one run in 6 1-3 innings. Hoby Milner (four outs), Elvis Peguero (one) and Devin Williams (three) completed a three-hit ball.
Williams earned his 14th save in 15 chances as Milwaukee retired the last 11 Mets in order on just 34 pitches.
“Three hits, kind of tough,” Showalter said. “We pitched pretty well, all things considered. You’d like to take advantage of that, but we didn’t.”
Mileaukee stranded eight runners against Verlander, who allowed five hits and struck out five while throwing 100 pitches.
Wiemer’s 422-foot drive off Drew Smith (3-3) hit the black fence surrounding the block of the Mets’ celebratory home run and rolled to within 50 feet of center fielder Brandon Nimmo.
DODGERS’ FREDDIE FREEMAN RECORDS 2,000TH CAREER SUCCESS WITH DOUBLE LOSS TO ASTROS
Milwaukee Brewers’ Joey Wiemer, center, is congratulated by Jesse Winker (33) after hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game while New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez a Right, look on Monday, June 26, 2023. in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
“It feels good, put a good swing on a good pitch,” said Wiemer, who has 11 home runs, tied with Cincinnati’s Spencer Steer for third among NL rookies.
The 6 1/3 inning stretch was the longest of the season for Rea, who has spent most of the past two years pitching in Japan.
“They were aggressive and he made good pitches early in the count,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said.
Milwaukee (41-37) began the night a half-game behind Cincinnati, leading the NL Central. The Brewers dropped 11 on base, two shy of their season high.
“A little frustrating not to score, we left a lot of guys on base. But if you get to a bullpen after five, there’s a chance,” Counsell said. “And then, obviously, we had a big hit from Joey.”
CARDENALS STRUGGLE AGAIN TO BEAT CUBS, SPLIT LONDON SERIES BEHIND WILLSON CONTRERAS’ BIG DAY
New York Mets’ Francisco Lindor reacts after a ground ball during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Monday, June 26, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
THE RETURN OF MCFARLAND
The Mets called up left-handed reliever TJ McFarland from Triple-A Syracuse and sent lefty Joshua Walker to the same affiliate. McFarland, who pitched for Showalter in Baltimore from 2013 to 2016, went 2-2 with a 2.76 ERA in 23 games for Syracuse.
UPS
Brewers shortstop Willy Adames created a funny moment in the fifth, when he caught Francisco Álvarez’s fly ball and tried to throw the ball into the crowd only to throw it into the protective netting. The fans politely booed Adames, who turned and smiled as the ball was tossed around the diamond. Third baseman Luis Urías then tossed the ball over the net into the crowd before Brett Baty’s at bat.
COACHES ROOM
Mets: RHP Jose Quintana (left rib), who pitched four innings Sunday in his third rehab start for Class A Brooklyn, will make at least one more minor league appearance.
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Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Joey Wiemer, right, celebrates with Willy Adames (27) after they defeated the New York Mets in a baseball game, Monday, June 26, 2023, in New York . (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
UNTIL NEXT TIME
The Mets plan to call up LHP David Peterson (1-6, 8.08 ERA) to make a starting spot Tuesday. Peterson is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA in six starts for Triple-A Syracuse since he was demoted on May 16. Brewers right-hander Julio Tehran (2-2, 1.53 ERA) has allowed just 23 hits in 35 1/3 innings of his career. first six starts for Milwaukee.
