Mets struggle to produce offense in 4-2 loss to Miami Marlins

MIAMI — The Mets ‘ summer surge is in danger of becoming a summer skid after dropping two games this weekend to the lowly Miami Marlins.

Offense has been tough to come by for the Amazins’ over their last three games, with the Mets dropping the third game of a four-game set to the Marlins, 4-2, on Sunday afternoon at LoanDepot Park.

For the second day in a row , the Mets gave themselves chances. They created traffic on the base paths and made pitchers work, chasing left-hander Trevor Rogers from the game after 4 2/3 innings. But they failed to capitalize each time, going just 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and leaving nine runners on base.

The Marlins (35-64) were sloppy and listless, but the Mets (50-48) still couldn’t come through.

“I felt like we were right there, but just couldn’t put anything together,” said manager Carlos Mendoza . “They got the big hit.”

The big hit was given up by rookie right-hander Christian Scott in the form of a three-run homer by Jazz Chisholm Jr . in the fourth inning.

“They made him work today,” Mendoza said. “They put together some good at bats and made contact, and made some hard contact. He was fine stuff-wise. I thought he was OK.”

Much like it was for Luis Severino on Saturday, the margin for error was exceptionally thin for Scott. But Severino is a veteran and knows how to turn it on and get crafty with little run support. Scott is competitive, but more methodical. He’s still learning how to adjust pitch-by-pitch at a higher level.

Scott got out of trouble in the third inning after loading the bases with one out by striking out Jesus Sanchez and inducing a pop-up to Otto Lopez . But after the Mets scored in the top of the fourth, he gave up back-to-back singles to start the bottom of the frame. A bunt by catcher Nick Fortes moved the runners to second and third, bringing up Chisholm, the leadoff hitter.

He fell behind before getting Chisholm to swing on two pitches low and inside. He went inside again with a slider, but he hung it up.

Chisholm drove it to right-center field to put the Marlins up 3-1.

“Honestly, it was exactly where I wanted it,” Scott said. “He put a good swing on it. I could throw that pitch 100 times and probably get him out most of the time, but he made a good swing. I didn’t really feel like it was a mistake because it was exactly where I wanted it.”

However, Mendoza seemed to hint that his pitch decision could have been better in that spot. Scott continuously worked inside and wanted a strike inside, when he could have thrown a ball out of the zone to get a free-swinging hitter to chase.

“I think it’s one of those that he wishes he had back,” Mendoza said. “Especially with two strikes and with a base open and an aggressive hitter. He was too close on the strikes.”

The Mets let Scott finish the fourth inning while Adrian Houser warmed up in the bullpen, but that was it for the right-hander. He allowed three earned runs on seven hits, walked two and struck out four over four innings in the loss (0-3).

Scott seems to understand what he should have done, yet failed to apply the lesson in that specific at-bat.

“It’s sometimes better to miss outside of the zone than in,” Scott said.

He should have taken his own advice.

An error by Fortes helped the Mets cut the deficit to one run in the fifth, with the catcher throwing one wild past first base on a strikeout of Harrison Bader . Rogers got Francisco Lindor looking for the first out, but Brandon Nimmo walked and J.D. Martinez singled to drive in Bader.

The rally stopped there. Pete Alonso reached on a force-out and the Marlins replaced Rogers with right-hander Declan Cronin , who struck out Mark Vientos to end the inning.

It was over after Houser gave up a two-out homer to Jake Burger in the seventh. Miami went up 4-2 and the Mets brought in left-hander Jake Diekman , who hit Sanchez with a pitch before striking out Lopez to get the Mets out of the inning.

Diekman put the Mets in position to come back with a scoreless eighth inning, but Miami closer Tanner Scott shut the door, retiring Bader, Lindor and Nimmo for the save (16).

“One of those games where we’ve just got to turn the page and get ready for tomorrow,” Mendoza said.