Defensive blunders, empty at-bats lead to Mets' loss to Blue Jays

TORONTO — To put it bluntly, it just wasn’t the Mets‘ night.

One of their best pitchers had an uncharacteristically tough outing, there were defensive blunders and empty at-bats in a 6-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night at Rogers Centre. To make matters worse, the Atlanta Braves crushed the Washington Nationals, moving into a tie with the Mets for the third National League wild-card spot once again.

David Peterson came into this outing having won four of his last five starts. The left-hander has typically benefited from tremendous run support, with the Mets having averaged 6.96 runs per game with him on the hill this season. But it was clear from the start the lefty wasn’t sharp.

The bulk of the damage came in the third when the Blue Jays batted around, but it started with an inefficient first inning from Peterson and the warning signs were on display in the second.

With the Mets up, 1-0, after taking a run off of Chris Bassitt in the first, Toronto tied the game in the second thanks to an error by Mark Vientos, two wild pitches, a walk and a single by Leo Jimenez.

Unable to get swings and misses, Peterson labored through the third and allowed three runs. Daulton Varsho bunted for a single to lead off and Peterson lobbed the throw past Pete Alonso at first, allowing him to get to second. A ground-ball moved Varsho over to third, where he was able to score easily on a double to right by Alejandro Kirk.

Ernie Clement, who scored the Jays’ first-inning run, drove a single to left field. Jesse Winker dove to make the catch but was unable to make it cleanly and dropped the ball when he hit the ground. Kirk held up at third, trying to avoid a rundown. But it didn’t matter. With two outs, Peterson gave up a triple to David Schneider, clearing the bases and putting the Blue Jays up, 4-1.

He then hit Jimenez with a pitch on his foot and was clearly distraught. Peterson bent over, frustrated at his inability to throw strikes. With two on and two out, Joey Loperfido roped a single to left, scoring Schneider.

The Mets went down, 5-1. They would score another run to cut the lead in the top of the seventh, but the bullpen gave up two hits in the bottom of the frame, with Huascar Brazobán giving up a one-out triple and Alex Young coming in and immediately giving up an RBI double to Spencer Horwitz.

The Mets went up, 1-0, in the first but stranded two runners. It was a big missed opportunity, seeing as how Bassitt (10-13), who pitched for the Mets in 2022, didn’t allow many baserunners. The left-hander held the Mets to one earned run on five hits, walked one, hit one and struck out eight over six innings.

Peterson got the Mets through the fourth, retiring the side in order before coming back out for the fifth. He got the first out and then gave up a single. Brazobán then relieved him. In his first loss since July 28 and only his second of the year (9-2), Peterson was charged with five runs (four earned) on eight hits. He walked two and struck out only two.

It was only the second loss for the Mets (79-66) in their last 13 games. They can take the series from the Blue Jays (69-77) with a win Wednesday afternoon and get back on track in the wild-card race.

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