Mets pummeled by Giants as Frankie Montas has another bad outing
Frankie Montas of the Mets walks to the dugout after the third inning against the San Francisco Giants at Citi Field on Sunday. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Before Sunday afternoon’s game against the Giants, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said he wanted to see Frankie Montas attack hitters, compete in the strike zone and, most importantly, provide length.
But as Montas ultimately delivered another dud in the Mets’ 12-4 loss, it’s safe to say Mendoza’s hopes went unfulfilled.
Montas allowed seven runs and seven hits in four innings-plus, walking two and striking out three. The righthander was pulled after issuing a leadoff walk to Matt Chapman in the fifth, exiting to a chorus of boos from the 42,876 at a sold-out Citi Field.
“He just couldn’t get swing and misses,” Mendoza said.
Said Montas: “It was definitely a tough day for me.”
The Mets (63-49) have lost five of their last six games and fell a half-game behind the Phillies (63-48) for the NL East lead. Philadelphia beat the Tigers, 2-0, on Sunday night.
Montas (3-2, 6.68 ERA), making his seventh start after missing the first three months of the season with a right lat strain, threw a season-high 92 pitches, 57 for strikes. Sunday marked his fourth start in which he allowed at least four runs and his third that lasted less than five innings.
The Giants (56-56) got four runs in the third to take a 4-1 lead. Patrick Bailey’s RBI single tied it at 1 and Rafael Devers’ three-run homer, a 403-foot no-doubter that he admired as it landed in a fan’s hands four rows up into the second deck in rightfield, put San Francisco in front.
“That pitch to Devers was right down the middle, a four-seam right there in the nitro zone,” Mendoza said. “When you do that to good hitters, they’re going to make you pay.”
Said Montas: “If I could take that ball back and throw a different pitch, I [would].”
The Giants added three runs in the fourth, extending their lead to 7-1. With runners on first and third and one out, Bailey hit a grounder to Pete Alonso, who hesitated before firing home, and Casey Schmitt easily scored. Heliot Ramos’ infield single, which came after beating Francisco Lindor’s long throw from the hole, and Devers’ single drove in the next two runs.
Montas is in the first season of a two-year, $34 million contract he signed with the Mets. Mendoza was asked after the game if his role is up for discussion.
“We just got done with the game here,” Mendoza said. “He’s got to be better. He knows that.”
What gives the Mets belief that he could improve?
“He’s been in this league for a long time,” Mendoza said. “And the stuff, like I said, you got a guy throwing 96, 97. He’s got a sinker. He’s got a slider. He’s got a split. You just got to continue to help him with his pitching ability and being able to get through a lineup a few times.”
The Giants scored five runs, including a three-run homer by Schmitt, off Ryne Stanek in the ninth. Catcher Luis Torrens relieved and got the final out of the inning.
Lindor’s 368-foot solo shot, his 21st homer, gave the Mets a 1-0 lead in the first.
The Mets cut it to 7-2 in the fifth. Jeff McNeil (2-for-4) initially held up at third after Francisco Alvarez’s two-out double but scored after Grant McCray’s cutoff throw sneaked under Willy Adames’ glove.
Francisco Alvarez had a two-out, two-run single in the ninth.
Righthander Austin Warren, who was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse before the game, struck out five in four scoreless innings in relief.
Lefthander Carson Whisenhunt, the Giants’ No. 3 prospect, made his second career start and allowed two runs (one earned) and three hits in 5 1⁄3 innings.
“I think we put this series behind us and focus on the next,” Mark Vientos said. “I think that’s just the nature of the game is just tomorrow’s a new day, and we got to focus on tomorrow now.”
Notes & quotes: Righthander Rico Garcia, who allowed three runs in 12 2⁄3 innings with the Mets, was designated for assignment . . . Righthander Tylor Megill (right elbow sprain) threw about 20 pitches in a live batting practice session Sunday. Mendoza said the plan is for Megill to throw a two-inning live batting practice Thursday . . . Righthander Paul Blackburn (right shoulder impingement) made a rehab start for Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday and was expected to arrive at Citi Field on Sunday. Mendoza said Blackburn needs to throw a bullpen session and the team still has “a couple of days” before deciding his next steps.
Ben Dickson is Newsday Sports' general assignment reporter. He joined Newsday’s high school sports staff in 2023 after graduating from Maryland, where he covered several of the Terrapins' teams.
