Mets fail with runners on base, blanked by Red Sox in loss at Citi Field
Mets pitcher Freddy Peralta leaves a game against the Boston Red Sox in the fifth inning at Citi Field on Saturday. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Andruw Monasterio and Masataka Yoshida hit two-run home runs as the surging Red Sox played after a night of normal rest and extended their winning streak to eight games with a 4-0 victory over the Mets on Saturday.
Boston is on its longest winning streak since taking 10 in a row from July 4-13 last year. The Red Sox have won 13 of 15 and 16 of 21.
The Red Sox arrived late to Citi Field for Friday's series opener after flight trouble stranded them in Chicago for nearly 24 hours. Boston poked fun at the ordeal by sporting white T-shirts that read “Show and Go Airlines, See You at 4:15."
Two batters after a leadoff walk to Caleb Durbin in the fourth, Monasterio gave put the Red Sox ahead by hitting a fastball from Freddy Peralta into the leftfield seats. Durbin singled off Tobias Myers starting the eight and Yoshida lifted a 1-0 cutter into the rightfield seats.
Eduardo Rivera started with 3 2/3 hitless innings in his first big league start, allowing Jorge Polanco's single on his final pitch. Greg Weissert, a Bay Shore native, came in relief and stuck out Eric Wagaman. Weissert had two strikeouts and allowed one hit in an inning.
The Mets threatened in the seventh inning, loaded the bases after a Wagaman walk, Francisco Alvarez single and Bo Bichette walk. But Justin Slaten struck out rookie A.J. Ewing on a called third. Ewing lost an ABS (automated ball-strike system) challenge on the play.
Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor drew walks to start the eighth inning before Carson Benge flew out to right and Danny Coulombe ended the eighth on Polanco's double-play grounder and finished Boston's AL-leading ninth shutout.
Peralta allowed two runs on three hits with five walks in 4 1/3 innings. He is 0-3 with a 7.59 ERA in his last five starts. The Mets (40-56) went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position for the second straight day. They were blanked for the ninth time and held to three hits or fewer for the eighth time this season.
