Worst defeat of 2025? Destructive nine-run inning sinks Mets to new low in loss to Braves

NEW YORK — The Mets had to work hard to earn the boos that they received on Wednesday night at Citi Field.

One night after they flattened the Braves by eight runs and saw Pete Alonso break Darryl Strawberry's franchise home run record, the home crowd was enthusiastic and jovial, even despite an hour and 35 minute rain delay.

That excitement began in the first two innings with the Mets breaking away by six runs off former starter Carlos Carrasco.

But it all came crashing down in one of the worst innings of the season. David Peterson and Reed Garrett combined to give up nine runs on four hits and five walks in a calamitous fourth frame as the Mets erased their good graces in a 11-6 loss to the Braves in front of 38,647 fans at Citi Field.

It was tied for the largest lead blown by the Mets this season and first time since 1965 that they have given away leads of six-plus runs in two games in a campaign.

"They're tough losses, but you got to keep going. We got the coaches right now looking at pretty much everything and trying to figure it out," Carlos Mendoza said. "How can we continue to help these guys, especially the guys from the rotation, because we know the talent's there but we just haven't been able to get that much from them."

It was also the first time in their history that the Mets have blown leads of four-plus runs in three straight games.

One night after snapping their seven-game losing streak, the Mets might have suffered their most disheartening loss in a 2-9 start to the month of August. The five-run deficit was their second-largest of the month.

It also scratched out a clear opportunity for the Mets to gain some more ground in the NL East, with the Phillies dropping a second straight game to the Reds. Instead, they stayed five games back of their division rivals and saw their advantage in the NL Wild Card trimmed to one game.

A disastrous frame for David Peterson, Reed Garrett

The Mets seemed to have a stranglehold on Wednesday night's game when Peterson trotted out to the mound with a six-run lead in the top of the fourth inning.

The left-hander had proved himself to be the Mets' most reliable starting pitcher throughout the 2025 season. Peterson had gone six straight starts with at least six innings pitched. He only allowed more than two earned runs once during that time.

Peterson's performance crumbled in the frame. He walked three of the first five batters he faced, including a free pass to Braves' No. 9 hitter Nick Allen with the bases loaded. Then, Jurickson Profar tagged a bases-clearing double down the left-field line to get the Braves within 6-4.

Peterson's night would end after he threw his 39th pitch of the frame to walk Matt Olson. He would end up being charged with six earned runs - his highest total of the season.

"I think I was a little out of sync with my mechanics and wasn't able to dial it back in," Peterson said.

The lefty's 3⅓-inning outing was his shortest start since he went three against the Orioles on Aug. 5, 2023. His five walks matched a season-high that came in his second start of the season on April 6 against the Blue Jays.

Mendoza called upon Reed Garrett to try and work through the threat.

The righty reliever entered with two runners on base and gave up an RBI single to Marcell Ozuna as the Braves got within one run. Then, after freezing Ozzie Albies on a cutter for the second out, Garrett issued a walk to Sean Murphy.

In the next at-bat, Reed Garrett left a cutter thigh-high to Michael Harris II, who belted a go-ahead grand slam to straightaway center field to boost the Braves ahead 9-6.

The Mets went a full turn through their rotation without having one of their starting pitchers throw a complete five innings. The offense has often been tasked with picking up the pieces in recent games.

"It's frustrating. We're not holding up our end and we need to do better," Peterson said. "I think that starts with analyzing the performance and then turning the page and moving on to the next one."

A waste of an explosion

The Mets came firing out of the gate against Carrasco.

In the opening inning, their first four batters reached base, with Lindor delivering a leadoff double and Juan Soto and Brandon Nimmo walking against the veteran right-hander. Then, Alonso kept his hot bat with a two-run single into single.

The hit gave Alonso 98 RBIs on the season — matching the Mariners' Cal Raleigh for the most in Major League Baseball. Cedric Mullins added a sacrifice fly in the inning, which saw Carrasco throw 39 pitches.

One inning later, Juan Soto belted a two-run home run -— his 29th blast of the season — and Nimmo and Jeff McNeil knocked a pair of doubles to grow the Mets' advantage to 6-0.

After the Braves took the lead, the Mets saw numerous chances snuffed out. In the fourth inning, with two runners on, Starling Marte lined a single into right field but Alonso was thrown out at home by Eli White.

Soto came to the plate with two runners on in the fifth inning but waved at a slider from Tyler Kinley to end the threat. The Mets had a baserunner in every inning but could not score after the second.

"Every loss, every one of them hurts," Mendoza said. "We have some tough ones. I wouldn't say worst loss of the season; they all count the same. Back at it tomorrow. But it sucks to lose a game when you're up six right away."

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Destructive nine-run inning sinks NY Mets to new low in loss to Braves