A cold and rainy Father’s Day weekend in Queens turned out to be a forgettable one — and not just because of the gloomy weather. For the first time this season, the New York Mets suffered a sweep, dropping all three games to a scrappy Tampa Bay Rays squad. The losses were marred by missed chances with runners in scoring position, debatable calls from the dugout, and even speculation about “dead balls” circulating on social media. The Rays, who came into town to face a Mets team that had previously dropped only seven home games, walked away with a clean sweep.
While several things went awry over the weekend, three Mets players in particular shoulder much of the blame.
Pete Alonso
What had been a standout season for Pete Alonso hit a rough patch this weekend. He came under fire online for his off-target throw to first base that preceded Kodai Senga’s hamstring injury on Thursday. Although Senga later clarified that he had felt discomfort before the play, the incident may have weighed on Alonso mentally — and it showed in his play.
Alonso managed just two hits in 12 at-bats during the series and failed to deliver in key moments. With the Mets leading 5-1 on Friday, he struck out with the bases loaded in the fifth inning against Eric Orze. Later, trailing 7-5 in the ninth, he popped out against Pete Fairbanks, squandering a chance to spark a comeback.
While other Mets hitters also struggled, Alonso’s role as the team’s top slugger puts more pressure on him to perform in clutch situations. Not only did he fail to deliver this series, but many of his at-bats lacked competitive fire — a worrying sign during a critical stretch.