On to (Face) Cincinnati...

Beehiiv informed me Gmail doesn’t allow gifs that are more than 1MB. The problem is pretty much all gifs are over 1MB? If the gif doesn’t show up, click the “read online” option. 

Happy Free Monday, and I hope this Memorial Day finds you well. Consider a paid sub. That way you get The Mets Newsletter in your inbox every single morning. 

The Marlins completed their sweep of the Mets, who scored a grand total of two runs during the three-game series. Yesterday, Miami walked them off on a grand slam.

The Mets, who were without an ill Juan Soto, had plenty of opportunities yet never cashed in. With two outs and nobody on in the first against Tyler Phillips, A.J. Ewing singled to left, then stole second to put himself in scoring position. But Mark Vientos flew out to center. 

The Marlins, until the bottom of the ninth, matched New York (NL) in RISP futility. In the bottom of the first, Xavier Edwards doubled off of Christian Scott with one out. Scott beared down and fanned Owen Caissie on a fastball, then got Kyle Stowers to pop it up in foul territory to the third baseman Brett Baty. 

With one out in the second, Marcus Semien reached second on a throwing error by Marlins third baseman Javier Sanoja. MJ Melendez struck out on a curve, making him 1 for his last 30. Tyrone Taylor drew a walk, but Hayden Senger’s deep drive to right wasn’t deep enough. 

Scott got himself in deep trouble in the third. Sanoja singled with one out before Scott walked both Liam Hicks and Xavier Edwards to load the bases. Scotty regained his composure though, striking out Owen Caissie on a sweeper, then coaxing Stowers into a ground out to second. 

The Mets had runners on first and second with two outs in the fourth when Marlins manager Clayton McCullough brought in Calvin Faucher, who handled Taylor by getting him to ground out to second.

With one out and one on in the bottom of the frame, Scott plunked Connor Norby, who eventually had to leave the game with “left elbow discomfort.” With a runner in scoring position, the Coconut Creek, Florida native punched out Christopher Morel on some heat before Sanoja flew out to left. 

The Mets had a two-out rally with two outs in the fifth. Bo Bichette and Ewing hit back-to-back hard hit singles. Swaggy V grounded out to third to scotch that mini parade.

Scott was taken out of the game after giving up a Jakob Marsee single with two outs in the sixth. It was probably his best performance of the season, considering the fact that he didn’t allow a run and he only permitted one hard hit ball (95+ mph exit velocity). 

With one out in the top of the seventh against Anthony Bender, Carson Benge drew a walk on four pitches, then swiped second base. Bichette hit a deep fly to center to move Benge over to third, but against the hard-throwing Michael Petersen, Ewing struck out attempting to hit some high heat. 

Ewing made up for his transgression in the bottom half. Sanoja smoked a one out double to left off of Huascar Brazobán. Brooks Raley entered and walked Liam Hicks. Then, Xavier Edwards singled right up the middle to the center fielder Ewing. The speedy Sanoja tried to score, but Ewing unleashed a great two-hop throw to Luis Torrens, who easily tagged out Sanoja. 

Raley survived a Caissie infield hit when Stowers grounded out to Semien for the third out. The game remained 0-0.

MJ Melendez shockingly singled to start the ninth against Pete Fairbanks. Nick Morabito pinch ran for him and immediately attempted to steal second. It took the ideal pitch and throw to nab the young speedster, and…they nabbed him. Torrens worked a walk with two outs, but Benge took three strikes in his at-bat. He should have challenged the third strike call, considering the Mets had both of their challenges left and they would just get another one if the game went to extras anyway. But he simply turned around and walked back to the dugout when home plate umpire Jansen Visconti made his ruling. 

Devin Williams, who hadn’t allowed a run since April 23rd, had the bottom of the ninth. Morel doubled to left to start. The Pest who goes by the name Esteury Ruiz pinch ran for Morel. He reached third on a Sanoja sacrifice bunt. Williams walked Hicks, then intentionally walked Edwards to load the bases and put the force play everywhere. Heriberto Hernández took a change-up for a strike. Williams decided to throw another one. Hernández crushed it for a walk-off grand slam. The Mets kind of deserved that. 

After a 5-1 homestand that included an epic come-from-behind victory over the Yankees, the Mets laid an egg and went 2-5 on this road trip. Two steps forward, two steps back. 

**

Juan Soto was in the original lineup sent out by the Mets social media team. Maybe half an hour later, they updated it with Soto no longer in there. Carlos Mendoza explained that there’s a “flu like” illness spreading amongst the team, and Soto caught it and felt weak while taking batting practice. When the manager was asked if Soto will be available this afternoon against the Reds, Mendoza said it’s possible - the illnesses have tended to only last 24 hours. 

When Soto was scratched, some folks on social media predicted the Mets would score negative runs. Close!

Jorge Polanco (Achilles Bursitis) took live at-bats in Port St. Lucie yesterday.  If he progresses well, he could go on a rehab assignment "pretty soon”, per Mendy. Fingers crossed on that one. 

The Triple-A Syracuse Mets lost Game 1 of their doubleheader to the Buffalo Bisons (Blue Jays affiliate) 6-4. RHP Jack Wenninger pitched a rare clunker, allowing four earned runs in five and a third innings. He allowed five hits, walked two, and struck out five. LHP A.J. Minter (lat, hip) threw a 1-2-3 inning, striking out a batter in the process. His velocity is still not where it was in 2025 however. 1B-LF Ryan Clifford went 2 for 3 with a home run, a double, two runs scored, and an RBI. LF-1B Jared Young (meniscus) went 1 for 4 with an RBI. 

Game 2 was a 1-0 Syracuse victory on another RF Ryan Clifford home run, his 10th of the year. RHP Joey Gerber, RHP Danis Correa, RHP Ryan “The Eggman” Lambert, LHP Nate Lavender, and LHP Anderson Severino combined on the shutout.

The Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies edged the Richmond Flying Squirrels (Giants) 2-1. RHP Bryce Conley got a no-decision despite throwing five shutout innings on four hits. He walked one and struck out five. LHP Felipe De La Cruz got the save after tossing the final inning and a third. RF Jose Ramos and, once again, 3B Nick Lorusso, both homered for Bing.

The High-A Brooklyn Cyclones zipped the Hudson Valley Renegades (Yankees) in a seven-inning game by the score of 4 to 0. RHP Tanner Witt, RHP Adbert Alzolay, LHP Gregori Louis, RHP Bryce Jenkins, RHP Juan Arnaud, and RHP Hunter Hodges combined on the shutout. 3B Yonatan Henriquez and C Ronald Hernandez stole four bases. Each. 

The Low-A St. Lucie Mets held on to defeat the Palm Beach Cardinals 5-4. SS Elian Peña went 1 for 3 with a run scored and a walk. RHP Joel Lara threw two and two third scoreless and hitless frames while walking two and punching out three. 

Late this afternoon the Mets look to forget all about their crappy road trip and try to have another great homestand. LHP Nick Lodolo (0-1, 7.20 ERA 5.70 xFIP) will chuck the pearl for the Cincinnati Reds. The Mets will send RHP Nolan McLean (2-3, 3.57 ERA 2.98 xFIP) to the bump. First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 pm eastern. The game will air on SNY and Audacy Radio 1050 AM