The Mets just dropped another one, falling 6-2 to the Boston Red Sox at Citi Field tonight. With only two games left before the All-Star break, that ugly 40-55 record is staring everyone in the face, and man, does this one hurt because of the absolute gem Nolan McLean threw. It was a brutal loss, plain and simple.
The game started rough, no doubt. Boston's leadoff hitter Anthony Seigler got to second base on an error in left field by Juan Soto. Mets starter Nolan McLean walked Wilyer Abreu a couple of batters later. Next thing you know, with two outs, Boston DH Masataka Yoshida absolutely ropes a line drive down the left field line which scored both Seigler and Abreu, aided by the ball getting stuck by the roll of tarp. Those two runs didn't even count as earned against McLean, which is brutal luck, but the defense did him dirty there from the jump. Brett Baty, though, he tried to spark something, extending his hit streak to 10 games with a single to lead off the third, then promptly swiping second base. Juan Soto got Baty home with a sac fly, and after a throwing error from cutoff man Caleb Durbin, A.J. Ewing scooted to third. But that was it, folks. Just one run out of all that action.
Benge's Heroics Can't Save It
But listen, the real story tonight, the absolute *sparkplug* in this game, was rookie Carson Benge. This kid is playing with fire! In the fourth, with Boston threatening to break it open even more, Benge guns down Red Sox catcher Connor Wong at home plate. Wong tried to score from second on a broken-bat single, and Benge made an incredible throw, with Francisco Alvarez applying a perfect tag. That's a run saved, keeping the score 2-1 Boston! Then Benge leads off the bottom of the fourth with a ground ball base hit himself, and with one out, he steals second base. Talk about an eventful, high-impact frame for a rookie! Even Mookie Wilson, a legend from the 1986 Mets, joined the Apple TV booth and took time to praise the "energy" he's seen from both Benge and Ewing in their head-turning rookie seasons.McLean Deals, Bats Go Silent
McLean, for his part, was a warrior on the mound. He stranded runners on second and third with one out in the fifth, battling back by striking out Romy Gonzalez and forcing Yoshida into a groundout. The man completed six innings for the fifth straight start. He was excellent, striking out seven batters while allowing just five hits and ZERO earned runs. That's pitching, plain and simple. And that, my friends, is why this loss stings so bad. You pitch like McLean did, you absolutely *have* to get that win. But the Mets offense? Ice cold, man. Sonny Gray for the Red Sox shut them down, pitching six full innings himself, allowing just one earned run on five hits while striking out three. New York tried to rally in the sixth with a Lindor leadoff single, but Baty grounded into a double play that just neutralized the whole threat, and Jorge Polanco grounded out to end the inning. Just brutal. Now, with the All-Star break just two games away, you have to wonder if they can find *any* kind of spark. Can Benge keep bringing that heat? Will the bats finally wake up before it's too late for this stretch of the season? The next game is absolutely crucial for getting some kind of momentum heading into that mid-season break.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.