The Mets got off to a good start in Arizona with a win on Monday, and they looked to David Peterson to continue their winning ways in the desert.
However, the southpaw, despite pitching three hitless innings to start, just couldn't execute enough to keep the Diamondbacks down.
"Kind of a mixed bag," Peterson said of his start. "Felt good with my stuff. Poor execution on a few pitches and too many free bases with no one on."
Peterson threw a season-high 104 pitches and got through six innings. But his four free passes hurt him as Arizona took advantage and put up four runs on the left-hander. But the big blow came in the sixth when Lourdes Gurriel Jr. jumped on a first-pitch fastball that was middle-middle for a two-run shot that gave the Diamondbacks, and Zac Gallen, more than enough to complete the 5-1 win.
"[Peterson's start] was better than the number," manager Carlos Mendoza said after the game. "He used all his pitches, the fastball was good, the changeup, slider, but a play here and there, one pitch to Gurriel, but I thought it was good."
Peterson's outing on Tuesday dropped his record to 2-2 and raised his ERA to 3.52 through his first seven starts of the 2025 season.
Mets' recent tough stretch
After getting out to a hot start, the Mets have hit a bit of a skid in recent weeks.
They are 4-8 over their last 12 games, and are 0-2-1 in series in that span — with Wednesday's rubber game deciding this upcoming series. While the Mets still sit atop the NL East with a 23-14 record, but this recent stretch has not produced as many wins as the team would like. Despite that, the Mets are still confident in this group and that they will turn things around soon.
"It’s never going to be easy. That’s what makes the big leagues the big leagues," Mendoza said of the stretch. "You’re going to go through stretches where you got to find a way, you got to fight. You’re going to go through some ups and downs. Overall, we’ve been there in every game. The guys continue to compete, and that’s what you want.
"Obviously, you want to come out on top, and we will. Nothing too concerned there."
Peterson added, "You’re going to go through some ups and downs. We’ve played some tough games, we’ve been battling every single game for nine innings. You win some, you lose some. The good thing about this team is everybody is able to take what happens today and flush it and come back tomorrow ready to compete and ready to win a ballgame."
"Zac [Gallen] pitched well, he was able to get out of that jam with just one run. Other than that, he pitched pretty well. Sometimes you have to tip your hat to them," Brandon Nimmo said of the offense. "We’ll come back tomorrow ready to go. Sometimes that happens. He pitched very well. We’re going to come back at it tomorrow and try to win a ballgame."
The Mets will look to win their first series since sweeping the Phillies at home in late April, on Wednesday afternoon.
Juan Soto makes history
Soto had a typical Soto statline against Arizona on Tuesday. Although he went hitless, he walked twice, including in that third inning that loaded the bases with two outs.
But those two walks helped the first-year Met make history. With his 798 walks, Soto now has the most walks by a hitter before they turn 27, passing Mickey Mantle (797).
"Pretty impressive and when you’re talking about those names and he’s only 26 and he’s already in that category, that’s elite," Mendoza said of the accomplishment. "It’s not easy to do, that’s what makes him a special hitter. His ability to control the strikezone and he seems to continue to get better at it. He’s not afraid to take his walks. If they’re afraid to pitch to him, he’ll take his base. Pretty big accomplishment there."
