Mets' Jonah Tong allows three homers in second MLB start in loss to Reds
Mets pitcher Jonah Tong throws during the third inning against the Reds on Saturday in Cincinnati. Credit: AP/Jeff Dean
CINCINNATI — One thing about major-league hitters is they know how to hit a fastball — sometimes even very good ones — and Mets prospect Jonah Tong learned that Saturday night.
Tong, who had allowed only eight homers in 57 minor-league games, served up three in his second major-league start, and the Mets’ bats stayed quiet in a 6-3 loss to the Reds at Great American Ball Park.
The homers were the only hits he gave up, and all came on fastballs, which he used heavily in the early innings before mixing in more changeups and curveballs.
Still, Tong, who had made his MLB debut with only two Triple-A games to his name, kept the Mets in it. He allowed four runs and three hits with four walks and six strikeouts in six innings.
“Definitely, he gets away with those pitches at the minor-league level, whether they foul it off, there’s some pop-ups,” manager Carlos Mendoza said, specifically referring to the first two homers, which were over the top of the zone. “Here, you’re facing a lot better competition, but I think he made a good adjustment recognizing that . . . There’s a lot of positive from his outing.”
However, the Mets’ offense, which had been humming of late, stalled against Reds righthander Brady Singer (13-9).
Francisco Lindor went 3-for-4 but was caught stealing twice, trying for second in the first and for third in the fifth. The Mets went 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left 10 on base.
The Mets’ biggest threat came in the ninth when Lindor doubled off Emilio Pagan with one out and Juan Soto singled to put runners at the corners. Lindor scored on a wild pitch to draw the Mets within 6-3, but Brandon Nimmo and Pete Alonso struck out swinging.
Tong allowed two runs in the second. Spencer Steer worked a two-out walk to bring up Sal Stewart, the Reds’ No. 4 prospect playing in his fourth major-league game. Stewart blasted a high fastball 412 feet to center over the outstretched glove of a leaping Cedric Mullins for his first career home run.
The Mets loaded the bases in the third with one out against Singer, and Nimmo’s sacrifice fly drew them to within one.
“We couldn’t square Singer up there,” Mendoza said. “We created traffic there, got the bases loaded, but overall, he moved the ball, which is what he does . . . But we couldn’t do much.”
Tong gave up another homer to lead off the bottom of the third, this one by Matt McLain, who slammed a borderline high fastball into the first row in right center. They added another solo shot in the fourth when Austin Hays homered on a grooved fastball, hitting it 392 feet to left to put the Reds up 4-1.
“They’re good hitters. They’re going to be able to hit pitches,” Tong said. “I just need to do a better job of mixing off-speed for strikes and being unpredictable.”
Singer allowed one run and four hits with four walks and five strikeouts in six innings.
Jared Young’s leadoff homer off Scott Barlow made it 4-2 in the seventh. Soto also stole a base that inning, putting him one shy of the 30-30 club. It was his ninth steal in 13 games, and with his 37 homers, it puts him well within shooting distance of becoming only the 16th player to put together a 40-30 season.
Ryne Stanek loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the seventh before allowing an RBI single by TJ Friedl to make it 5-2. Kevin Herget walked home another run to make it 6-2.
Laura Albanese is a reporter, feature writer and columnist covering local professional sports teams; she began at Newsday in 2007 as an intern.
