Heat Wave: Mets' Early Promise Melts Away in Bullpen Inferno loss

The New York Mets' aspirations, initially buoyed by Frankie Montas' impressive debut, unfortunately faded in a challenging sixth inning, as the Atlanta Braves rallied to secure a 7-4 victory on Tuesday evening in the warm atmosphere of Queens. This defeat unfortunately added to the Mets' recent struggles, marking their tenth loss in their last eleven games.

Montas's Promising Debut: Returning to the field after recovering from a spring training injury, Frankie Montas provided a performance that Mets supporters had been hoping for. He effectively contained the Braves' formidable batting lineup for five scoreless innings, achieving five strikeouts and managing the hits on a notably hot night at Citi Field, with temperatures reaching a high not seen at a Mets home game since 2001. His earlier challenges during rehabilitation, reflected in a 12.05 ERA, seemed to be forgotten as he handled the demanding conditions with skill.

Mets' Offensive Push in the Fourth: Taking advantage of Spencer Strider's control issues, the Mets managed to break the tie in the fourth inning. Walks loaded the bases, setting the stage for Jeff McNeil's sacrifice fly and Brett Baty's crucial two-out, two-run single to right-center, which gave New York a 3-0 lead and energized the 38,130 fans who were in attendance despite the heat.

The game took a turn for the worse in the sixth inning when Manager Carlos Mendoza called upon Huascar Brazobán to pitch.Unfortunately, the situation quickly deteriorated as Brazobán walked the first three Braves batters after throwing 14 pitches. José Castillo was brought in to relieve him, but he was unable to stop the momentum. A series of events, including an RBI infield single by pinch-hitter Eli White, a hit-by-pitch, and a game-tying RBI single, set the stage for Matt Olson's two-run single, which ultimately gave the Braves a 5-3 lead.

Matt Olson, who has been a key player for Atlanta, continued to perform well. He hit an RBI double in the eighth inning, and Austin Riley followed with a run-scoring double, extending the lead to 7-3 and solidifying the Braves' victory. Olson's performance included going 2-for-5 with three important RBIs, and he maintained his impressive .461 batting average with runners in scoring position.

Despite a late rally attempt by the Mets in the ninth inning, they fell short. Ronny Mauricio hit an RBI double off Raisel Iglesias, bringing the tying run to the plate. However, Iglesias managed to get Francisco Lindor out, thus securing his ninth save and the Braves' fifth consecutive win against the Mets this season.

Spencer Strider (W, 3-5): Although the fourth inning presented some challenges with 33 pitches and three walks, Mr. Strider persevered through five innings, allowing only two hits while striking out eight. He has now secured his third consecutive victory following a series of losses after his elbow surgery.José Castillo (L, 0-2): Officially charged with the loss, Mr. Castillo was unable to record an out, allowing two inherited runners to score, in addition to one of his own.Michael Harris II Injury: Braves' center fielder, Mr. Harris, was removed from the game after being struck on the right elbow by a 95 mph sinker in the sixth inning. His status is currently day-to-day. Walking Woe:The Mets' pitchers issued a significant nine walks, which directly contributed to Atlanta's comeback.

Carlos Mendoza expressed his disappointment regarding the bullpen's inability to maintain the lead following Mr. Montas's strong start, particularly highlighting the free passes. He stated, "You cannot walk the first three batters in an inning like that and anticipate escaping unscathed against that lineup." He acknowledged the team's current slump while emphasizing the importance of continued effort. He's here really though and I'm finding it really hard to believe its not his fault. Meanwhile notable moments talking what he needs to fix is stop moving players all over the field he hurting them more then placing them in their natural position.

However, Mets (Struggling at 30-48) will send RHP Clay Holmes (7-4, 3.04 ERA) to the mound Wednesday night hoping to salvage the series finale. The Braves (45-33) counter with 20-year-old rookie RHP Didier Fuentes (0-1, 7.2 ERA) making his second MLB start. First pitch at Citi Field tonight at 7pm