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New York Post
Mets allow six homers in loss to Rockies as winning streak ends before All-Star break
By Peter Botte,
1 day ago
It would have been inconceivable as May turned to June for the Mets to even consider reaching 50 wins by the All-Star break.
They ended up finishing just one victory short of that total after their five-game winning streak on this homestand was halted with Sunday’s 8-5 loss to the Rockies at Citi Field.
“Interesting,” first-year manager Carlos Mendoza said with a smile when asked to sum up an eventful first half. “We went though a lot. But the guys continue to battle. They continue to show up and continue to believe in themselves.
Jose Quintana #62 of the New York Mets reacts after giving up a home run during the fifth inning when the New York Mets played the Colorado Rockies Sunday, July 14, 2024. Robert Sabo for NY Post
“So very proud of them. We’re in a better position now, but understanding that we still have a ways to go. … There’s something special going on in that room.”
Indeed, the Mets’ record stood at a dreadful 24-35 on June 2, but Mendoza’s resurgent team still finished with 25 wins over its final 36 games heading into the four-day break.
The Mets remain in the third wild-card position in the National League with a 49-46 overall mark when they reconvene for a three-game series against the Marlins beginning Friday in Miami.
Mets first base Pete Alonso (R) and his teammates New York Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo (C), New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor, New York Mets pitcher Christian Scott (L)( and New York Mets pitcher Luis Severino react from their team dugout during game action against the Colorado Rockies in the ninth inning at Citi Field. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
“From where we were to where we are now, I think there’s so much to be pleased about,” Pete Alonso said. “Obviously, there’s room to grow and room to improve, but I’m super proud of this group and our resiliency and sticking together.
“Just how we’ve rebounded and faced adversity, it’s been fantastic. … The vibes are great right now, winning a ton of games, it’s been a tremendous group effort.”
Alonso, the team’s lone All-Star representative and a participant again in Monday’s annual Home Run Derby, clubbed a two-run blast — and Jose Iglesias rapped four hits — for the Mets.
Colorado Rockies first base Michael Toglia (L) celebrates his solo home run, his third of the game against the New York Mets with his teammate in the eighth inning at Citi Field in Queens. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
But starting pitcher Jose Quintana was tagged for four of the six home runs allowed by the Mets, including three by Michael Toglia and two by Ezequiel Tovar.
“It’s a little frustrating to give up homers like that, solo homers, but they tried to attack the zone early and took advantage of that,” Quintana said. “But we finished, with this homestand, strong, and we’ve been playing way better. … We’ll keep it going and come back strong in the second half.”
Quintana had posted a solid 2.82 ERA over his previous 10 starts, but he left trailing 5-3 with two outs in the sixth inning.
Pete Alonso reacts after he strikes out swinging during the 7th inning when the New York Mets played the Colorado Rockies. Robert Sabo for NY Post
Quintana spotted the Rockies a 2-0 lead two batters into the game; the veteran lefty was clocked for a two-run homer into the second deck in left by Tovar on a first-pitch changeup.
Rockies starter German Marquez blanked the Mets through three, but Alonso followed an infield single by Francisco Alvarez with a two-run blast to left in the fourth for a 2-2 game.
It was Alonso’s team-high 19th of the season, but his first since July 2.
Francisco Lindor worked a bases-loaded walk later in the inning to give the Mets the lead, but Toglia tied it again with a solo shot to right against Quintana leading off the fifth.
The former All-Star was taken deep twice more in the sixth, a 430-foot shot to center by Brenton Doyle and a second solo shot to left by Toglia for a 5-3 Colorado lead.
Tovar added his second homer of the game, a two-run blast off Adrian Houser, in the seventh.
Toglia blasted his third of the game against Houser in the eighth to extend the Mets’ deficit to five.
Francisco Lindor #12 of the New York Mets is forced out on a fielders choice during the third inning. Robert Sabo for NY Post
Rockies reliever Nick Mears fanned Alvarez, Alonso and Mark Vientos with two runners on base to squelch one chance to close the gap in the bottom of the inning.
Jeff McNeil’s RBI double against lefty Jalen Beeks drew the Mets within 8-4 in the eighth.
A one-out walk to Lindor loaded the bases, but the Mets only plated one more run in the inning on Brandon Nimmo’s fielder’s choice grounder.
New York Mets second base Jeff McNeil connects on an RBI double against the Colorado Rockies in the eighth inning at Citi Field in Queens, New York, USA, Sunday, July 14, 2024. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
Alvarez’s bid for a game-tying three-run blast was caught on the warning track to end the threat.
Singles by Vientos and Iglesias got the tying run to the plate again in the ninth, but righty Victor Vodnik struck out Tyrone Taylor and pinch-hitter J.D. Martinez for the final outs.
“It says a lot about your offense when we got down like that, and I never thought we were out of the game,” Mendoza said.
“We came up short, but we never give up. And that’s what means the most,” Iglesias added. “We had a really good homestand heading into the break, and we’ll be ready for the second half.”
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