The Mets’ series opener against the Dodgers ended in a 4-2 loss, but the bigger blow might have been Juan Soto having to leave the game early due to more soreness in his ailing calf. It was a close one for much of the night in New York, but ultimately the Dodgers pulled away, leaving Mets fans with plenty to chew on after this one.
Manaea Battled, Sasaki Dominated
Sean Manaea had a super strong outing for the Mets, even though he didn’t factor into the decision. He was working around trouble right from the start, navigating a leadoff single by Shohei Ohtani in the first, who only got on base after challenging an initial strikeout call. Manaea bounced back, striking out two straight to end that inning. Mets fans got to cheer when Luis Robert smacked a towering one-out solo homer to left in the second, his second long ball in just four games since coming off the injured list. Jared Young followed with a double, but they couldn’t bring him home to add on. Manaea kept rolling, retiring six straight into the third, until Teoscar Hernández doubled down the left field line. A.J. Ewing rushed the throw to second and it was off line, but Manaea still escaped unscathed.
The Dodgers finally tied it in the fourth. Freddie Freeman, who went on to collect three hits, singled to lead off. Mookie Betts followed with a single, putting runners at the corners with nobody out. Miguel Rojas then hit a fly ball deep enough to score Freeman, tying the game. Manaea walked Kyle Tucker, and while Francisco Alvarez wanted to challenge the ball four call, he waited too long. Manaea didn’t let it unravel, getting the next two batters to fly out and limiting the damage to just one run, relying mostly on fastballs to navigate that lineup. Even Shohei Ohtani’s wild fifth-inning double, poking a Manaea sweeper that was six inches off the plate, didn’t turn into more. Ohtani tried to stretch it into a triple, but Carson Benge and Francisco Lindor combined for a sparkling play to throw him out at third, helping Manaea out of the inning.
Soto’s Health Looms Large
While Manaea was battling, Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki was straight up dealing. This guy kept the Mets’ hitters off balance all evening with his lethal splitter. It was pure filth, generating an enormous number of whiffs. Sasaki finished with nine strikeouts over seven innings of work, and the Mets just couldn’t solve him. That Juan Soto calf injury is the biggest concern heading into the rest of the series, though. He did draw a one-out walk in the bottom of the third, but then Bo Bichette grounded into a double play, ending that threat. Soto leaving the game early is a huge storyline, especially with more soreness.
The Mets briefly threatened again in the bottom of the fifth, but couldn’t make it count. They’re back at it against the Dodgers tomorrow, and everyone will be watching for updates on Soto. His health is going to be the biggest thing on everyone’s mind moving forward.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Amazin’ Avenue.
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