Mets outhit, outplayed, outclassed in latest loss to Dodgers

Dodgers 4 Mets 3 (Citi Field, Flushing, NY)

Mets record: 43-62

Mets streak: Lost 3

WP - Yoshinobu Yamamoto (11-6)

LP - Nolan McLean (7-7)

SV - Brock Stewart (1)

Seat on the Korner: Yoshinobu Yamamoto

We select a Star of the Game and virtually invite him to take his Seat on the Korner — just as Ralph Kiner did on WOR-TV Channel 9 during the early days of the New York Mets.

Continuing the tradition of Rheingold Beer sponsoring Kiner’s Korner, this season every seat is proudly presented by The Main Event Restaurant & Sports Bar.

With locations in Plainview and Farmingdale, The Main Event features 80+ HD TVs, fresh daily seafood, and Black Angus certified steaks—so you never have to choose between great food and the big game.

It wasn't Yoshinobu Yamamoto's best game, but just as in the last time he faced Nolan McLean, he outdid Nolan by just enough to get the job done. His seven hits and two walks in six innings isn't the best line he's ever had, but when he needed to get an out, he did. It was enough to outduel McLean and get the victory.

Need to Know

• Juan Soto was placed on the 10 Day IL before the game with a Grade 2 calf strain and is expected to miss anywhere from 4-6 weeks.

• Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Nolan McLean faced each other before this season, on April 14th. McLean went 7 innings and Yamamoto pitched 7 and 2/3's. Both gave up just one earned run, and neither was involved in the decision. It was the Mets' 7th straight loss in what would eventually become a 12-game losing streak.

• McLean gave up two earned runs in six innings on four hits and two walks while striking out seven. He threw 96 pitches in those six innings.

• Freddie Freeman had his second straight three hit game.

• Andy Pages drove in two runs with a force out and a single.

• Tyrone Taylor's pinch hit double in the 8th off Tanner Scott brought the Mets to within a run.

• Brock Stewart's save was his first of the season, and the third of his career.

• The Dodgers are 5-0 against the Mets this season.

Turning Point

The Mets actually put together a multi-run rally in the 8th. Dave Roberts brought Tanner Scott into the game to face Brett Baty, and Andy Green responded with Tyrone Taylor, who doubled to bring the Mets to within a run.

But then came the turning point, which was Scott striking out A.J. Ewing to end the threat.

Brock Stewart would pitch a 1-2-3 9th to end it for good.

Three Keys

The Brett Baty Conundrum

Brett Baty was at first base today for some reason. This error led to two unearned runs in the third inning.

Brett Baty is being forced down the Wilmer Flores route: being made to play multiple positions even though he has no shot to play any of them well. Flores could have been a force at the plate if he wasn't jerked around from position to position. I'll die on that hill.

As for Baty, that might not be the case. But the issue is that if you're trying to showcase him for a potential trade (which I think they're doing ... I mean, why sit one of your more consistent players in Jared Young at this point if you're not trying to showcase Baty), why are you not putting him in the best position to succeed? I get you don't want to sit Bichette, but can Semien get a day off? Can't Jorge "Better first baseman than Pete Alonso" Polanco play first base instead so that Baty can concentrate on being a good hitter?

(He did go down and get a base hit on a splitter from Yamamoto, so there's that.)

The Other Side of Run Prevention

That Baty hit started a rally which was followed by a Francisco Alvarez single to set up first and second with nobody out and A.J. Ewing at the plate. Ewing hit one hard, but Freddie Freeman did this ...

Then after Francisco Lindor popped out, Bo Bichette lined a single into left field to drive in a run. So Carson Benge was up as the tying run. He hit one to Mookie Betts that took a tricky hop ...

Those two plays won't make SportsCenter's Top 10. But they show why the Dodgers are among the league leaders in fewest errors made. They make the plays they're supposed to make, and some of the ones that they're not supposed to make.

Nolan's Odyssey

Nolan McLean didn't have a bad game at all. The stuff was there.

His one bad mistake was missing location on the fastball to Tucker for the home run. Two runs were unearned because of Baty's error and the passed ball by Alvarez. Then the run he gave up in the 5th, which was a product of the Dodgers reaching out and hitting pitches they had no business hitting. The double by Teoscar Hernandes to lead off the inning was outside. Then Pages took a pitch on the outside corner and grounded it through the gaping hole between Baty and the foul line.

McLean's issue, as it has been throughout the season, was not being efficient with his pitches enough to stay in the game longer. But that's going to happen when you're throwing nasty sweepers all over the place and you're not quite sure where they're going, or if the other team is going to swing at them or not.