Mets slip after six-run cushion

The Mets let a six-run cushion slip away and lost 11-6 to Atlanta at Citi Field, extending a rough stretch.

Mets squander six-run lead in loss to Braves

The Mets raced to a six-run lead through two innings at Citi Field, then watched it vanish as Atlanta answered with a big fourth inning. David Peterson walked four in that fourth, and the Braves followed with a three-run double and a grand slam to flip the score and take an 9-6 edge. The Mets did briefly regain momentum with early offense, including a two-run single from Alonso and a Lindor run later, but the night ended with Atlanta pulling away late and the bullpen giving up more runs.
This collapse comes after a string of poor performances on the mound and at the plate. Peterson was removed after 3 1/3 innings, and the bullpen did not provide length or consistency. The team has now lost 12 of 14 games and remains in a tight wild-card race while still trailing the top of the NL East standings. Alonso’s milestone week was overshadowed by the miscue-filled night and the continuing issue of walks delaying any real momentum.

This game highlights a pattern the Mets have failed to break this season. Starting pitchers are not consistently going deep, and the bullpen is stretched when the game remains close. The team also carries a high walks rate, 3.60 per game, one of the higher marks in MLB, which erodes any offensive lead and magnifies mistakes. Manager Carlos Mendoza has signaled that coaches are reviewing every angle, especially in the rotation, to extract more reliability from a rotation that has struggled to complete five innings.
Beyond the technical issues, the Mets face a broader timing problem: a season that looks more like a test of resilience than a steady push toward playoff life. The offense showed flashes early, but the slide after two innings underscored how fragile an eight-to-one run swing can be when control falters late in games. If New York wants to defend its wild-card position, it will need a concerted adjustment from the rotation, a sharper plate approach, and more consistent bullpen work over the next stretch of games.

Highlights

What matters now is turning potential into consistent results as the schedule tightens.