NEW YORK — The New York Mets, mired in a nightmare season spiraling uncontrolled, have been walloped with a one-two punch minutes aside Wednesday afternoon earlier than dropping one other recreation with a late-inning meltdown.
First, the membership positioned struggling nearer Edwin Diaz on the injured listing with a shoulder impingement moments earlier than the primary pitch towards the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Then got here the second blow: All-Star first baseman Pete Alonso exiting the sequence finale within the first inning when he was hit on the precise hand by a pitch.
Alonso took a 93 mph fastball from Dodgers left-hander James Paxton whereas checking his swing, immediately falling to his left knee upon influence. He walked all the way down to first base however exited the sphere with a coach moments later.
After the sport, Mets supervisor Carlos Mendoza mentioned X-rays on Alonso’s hand have been destructive. He underwent a CT scan, however the outcomes will not be recognized till Thursday, in keeping with Mendoza.
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As for Díaz, the right-hander mentioned he felt tightness after his outing Saturday however did not report it to the coaching employees till waking up with extra ache Wednesday. He mentioned he underwent an ultrasound and “every thing appears to be like nice.”
“I really feel good,” Díaz mentioned. “I instructed them, ‘When you guys let me pitch at this time, I can pitch at this time.’ However they need to care for that. It is my first time feeling one thing in my shoulder. The ultrasound seemed nice. They have been completely satisfied about how my shoulder seemed. Simply take a few days off and begin enjoying catch once more.”
With out Díaz and Alonso, the Mets excavated a brand new nadir in a 10-3 loss, giving up six runs within the eighth inning to finish a three-game sequence sweep by the hands of the Dodgers. The loss dropped the Mets to 22-33. They’ve misplaced seven of their previous eight video games.
A free agent this winter, Alonso, 29, has been one of the best hitter for an anemic Mets offense, main the group in residence runs (12) and OPS (.758). He’s a primary candidate for the Mets to commerce by the July 30 deadline ought to president of baseball operations David Stearns resolve to, although a big hand damage may complicate the endeavor.
“Nothing’s modified with Pete’s scenario,” Stearns mentioned Tuesday. “Our purpose is, every day, to assist this group succeed as a lot as doable so we are able to win as many video games as doable.”
Díaz, 30, has been one of some core veterans underperforming for the Mets this season.
The 2-time All-Star was charged with one earned run in his first 10 appearances this season earlier than April 29, but it surely has been a catastrophe since then. In his previous 10 video games, Díaz has surrendered 11 runs on 14 hits in 10⅓ innings.
He blew his fourth save in three weeks Saturday towards the San Francisco Giants, pitching on the second day of a back-to-back after he was saved out of the Mets’ three-game sequence towards the Cleveland Guardians.
Afterwards, Díaz insisted he was inspired by the efficiency and did not trace at a bodily challenge. However he did not pitch within the Mets’ doubleheader Tuesday. As an alternative, Adam Ottavino arrived within the ninth inning for a save alternative within the first recreation and squandered the Mets’ 2-1 lead.
Díaz mentioned he performed catch over the previous few days earlier than feeling extra discomfort Wednesday. He will not throw a baseball for “two or days.”
Díaz signed a five-year, $102 million contract — the largest ever for a reliever — after a historic 2022 season. He then tore his proper ACL celebrating a win for Puerto Rico within the World Baseball Basic in March 2023, ending his season with the Mets earlier than it began.