Minor Errors Cost Mets in Extra-Inning Loss to Braves: ‘A Tough One to Swallow’
In baseball, the smallest missteps can mean the difference between bouncing back with a strong win or slipping further into a losing streak. That was the story for the New York Mets on Tuesday night as they dropped a 5–4 extra-inning heartbreaker to the Atlanta Braves — a game they arguably had every opportunity to win.
**“That one stings — it’s a tough loss,”** Mets manager Carlos Mendoza admitted postgame.
Despite entering the game with a four-game skid, the Mets managed to push four runs across against Braves starter Spencer Schwellenbach — who’d previously had their number. Home runs from Juan Soto and Tyrone Taylor and a strong seven-inning, one-run performance from starter David Peterson had New York in a good position.
But the tide turned in the eighth inning when Peterson allowed the first two batters to reach base. With two outs and one strike to go, Marcell Ozuna ripped a bases-clearing double on a splitter left too high and inside, tying the game at four.
Catcher Francisco Alvarez admitted he called for a splitter on a 2-2 count, even though reliever Reed Garrett had originally wanted a fastball. “Maybe I made a mistake in that spot,” Alvarez reflected. “I feel bad about it — I should’ve stuck with the heater.”
Ozuna had barely fouled off the previous splitter, prompting Alvarez to believe another might fool him. Garrett later said Alvarez had chosen his go-to “swing-and-miss” pitch, and the result wasn’t so much a bad call, but poor execution.
**“It’s not the wrong pitch,”** Garrett explained. **“If I had thrown it a bit lower, maybe we get a grounder instead.”**
### Costly Baserunning Mistakes
The Mets also shot themselves in the foot on the basepaths with two key mental errors. The first came in the sixth when Pete Alonso, standing on first, was doubled off after Jeff McNeil lined out to shortstop Nick Allen.
**“Pete’s gotta read that better — freeze or take a step back,”** Mendoza said of the mistake.
Later, with the game tied in the ninth, Juan Soto made a baserunning gamble that backfired. After being picked off earlier in the game, Soto was again caught off guard when Alonso’s deep fly to right was caught on a leaping play by Ronald Acuña Jr. Soto had nearly reached second base, unsure if the catch had been made. He hesitated, waiting for a signal from first base umpire Edwin Jimenez. By the time the out was confirmed, Acuña had already launched a throw to first, easily doubling Soto off.
**“I was just trying to be aggressive and get to third or score,”** Soto said. **“But the ump took too long to make the call.”**
Mendoza acknowledged the difficulty of the moment, noting Acuña made a spectacular catch and the umpire was justified in waiting to confirm possession. Still, he conceded that the delay put Soto in a no-win situation.
**“That’s baseball,”** Soto shrugged. **“You live and learn.”**
### Final Blow in the 10th
In the bottom of the 10th, after the Mets failed to score, they intentionally walked Acuña to set up a potential double play. Huascar Brazobán got the first out, and the Mets had a chance to grab a second when catcher Alvarez mishandled a pitch in the dirt. With the ball behind him, the runner on second, Luke Williams, made a half-hearted dash toward third, hesitated, then sprinted once Alvarez threw to second base instead of initiating a rundown.
Mendoza gave credit to Williams: **“He read the play perfectly and capitalized.”**
Alvarez later admitted he reacted too quickly and should have assessed the situation more carefully. With runners at the corners, another walk loaded the bases before a deep sacrifice fly sealed the game for Atlanta.
