CHICAGO — Just when it appeared the Mets had turned a corner on their season they have reverted to losing series against sub-.500 teams.
It was unsightly for the Mets when it occurred earlier this month against the Tigers, Rockies and Reds, but now add the Cubs to the list. Maybe the Mets’ last home stand — which finished with five straight victories for manager Buck Showalter’s bewildering bunch — never happened.
On Wednesday, they received a subpar start from Kodai Senga and hardly anything resembling an offensive attack against Marcus Stroman in a second straight loss, 4-2 at Wrigley Field, that gave the Cubs a series victory at minimum. The Mets (25-25) will try to avoid getting swept in the three-game series on Thursday.
Stroman roared off the mound in celebration after getting Francisco Alvarez to hit into a double play to end the eighth inning.
Two seasons removed from his Mets tenure, the right-hander was fired up, having completed a gem in which only a home run by Alvarez scathed him. Stroman allowed just four hits and recorded 17 groundball outs over the eight innings.
Marcus Stroman, who allowed just two runs, celebrates after getting the third out in the eighth inning of the Mets’ 4-2 loss to the Cubs.APThe Mets have scored two runs apiece in each of their last three games.
That followed a flurry of excitement that was created by walk-off victories in the 10th inning over the Rays and Guardians on the last home stand.
Senga managed to survive allowing 11 base runners over five innings with only three runs scoring. Pitching on six days’ rest, he walked five, surrendered six hits and departed after 106 pitches.
That followed Senga’s best performance of the season, a three-hit gem over six innings with 12 strikeouts against the Rays.
Nico Hoerner, who hit a solo homer later in the game, scores a run in the third inning as Francisco Alvarez stands by during the Mets’ loss.USA TODAY Sports via Reuters ConAlvarez continued his torrid play with a two-run homer in the third inning that gave the Mets a 2-0 lead. Mark Canha singled to begin the rally before Alvarez hit a shot through the wind that cleared the wall in left-center. It was his sixth homer of the season and third in four games.
The rookie catcher entered play with a .968 OPS in May.
Pete Alonso then had a brain cramp that helped sink the Mets in the fourth inning.
Brett Baty hit a fly ball to left field with one out, and Alonso ran to second base on the play. He was easily thrown out while retreating to first base, ending the inning.
Mets starter Kodai Senga, gesturing to first base during the third inning, allowed three runs in five innings and suffered the loss.APSenga got battered in the third inning, allowing three runs to place the Mets in a 3-2 hole.
The ugly inning for the right-hander started with a walk to Nico Hoerner before Dansby Swanson stroked an RBI double.
Seiya Suzuki followed with an RBI double and Mike Tauchman’s ensuing single brought in the Cubs’ third run.
Alvarez reached on an infield single to lead off the sixth, but Brandon Nimmo — after failing in multiple attempts to bunt — hit into a double play against Stroman.
Francisco Alvarez celebrates with Mark Canha (left) after belting a two-run homer in the third inning of the Mets’ loss.AP In his previous two at-bats, Nimmo had struck out, seeing only seven total pitches.
Drew Smith entered in the sixth inning and surrendered a homer to Hoerner that buried the Mets in a 4-2 hole. It was the second straight appearance in which Smith allowed a homer.
