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4 hours ago
Fraley leads Reds to 5-2 win after Mets retire Wright's number at Citi Field
NEW YORK -- Jake Fraley matched a career high with three hits and drove in two runs as the Cincinnati Reds beat the New York Mets 5-2 on Saturday. On a festive afternoon at Citi Field, the Mets honored David Wright by retiring his No. 5 jersey and inducting him into the team's Hall of Fame during a pregame ceremony. They jumped out to a 2-0 lead, too, before Fraley doubled and scored on a two-base throwing error by catcher Luis Torrens in the third inning. Fraley then delivered a tiebreaking single in the fourth and a run-scoring double in the sixth for the Reds, who moved a season-high five games over .500 at 52-47. New York's first two batters reached base in the ninth, but Emilio Pagán pitched out of trouble to earn his 21st save. Francisco Lindor grounded into a fielder's choice that left runners at the corners before Juan Soto hooked a potential tying homer just foul down the right-field line. Soto was called out on a borderline check-swing for strike three, and Pete Alonso flied out to the warning track in the right-field corner to end it. Matt McLain had an RBI single in the third and Tyler Stephenson grounded into a run-scoring forceout in the sixth for Cincinnati. Nick Martinez (8-9) allowed two runs and struck out five over five innings for the win. Mark Vientos hit an RBI single in the first and Brett Baty led off the second with a homer for the Mets, who squandered an early 2-0 lead for the second consecutive game. New York left the bases loaded in the first and sixth and stranded 11 overall while finishing 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position. Clay Holmes (8-5) gave up five runs — four earned — in 5 1/3 innings. The Mets loaded the bases with one out in the sixth, but Scott Barlow struck out leadoff batter Brandon Nimmo before getting Lindor to hit a broken-bat grounder to first. Mets starters have lasted six innings or fewer 35 times in the last 40 games. David Peterson has accounted for all five starts of 6 1/3 innings or longer in that span. Peterson (6-4, 3.06 ERA) is scheduled to face fellow All-Star LHP Andrew Abbott (8-1, 2.07) in Sunday's series finale. ___
New York Post
5 hours ago
- New York Post
Ronny Mauricio elicits boos from Mets fans following costly error
Access the Mets beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets. Try it free The Citi Field crowd might have started in a good mood after the ceremony honoring David Wright before the game. But they certainly didn't end that way, showering boos across the final innings of a 5-2 loss to the Reds. On such episode of jeering came on what appeared to be a double play that went awry. From the way the ball left Tyler Stephenson's bat, the result seemed predictable. It would've allowed Reed Garrett, who'd just replaced Clay Holmes and inherited a first-and-third jam in the sixth inning, to escape after just one pitch. 3 Cincinnati Reds designated hitter Austin Hays (12) slides safely into third base as New York Mets third baseman Ronny Mauricio (10) fields an infield single by first baseman Spencer Steer during the sixth inning at Citi Field. Brad Penner-Imagn Images But after Ronny Mauricio fielded the 73 mph grounder at third, his throw pulled Brett Baty to the left and off second base, turning a potential inning-ending double play into a fielder's choice that allowed a run to score. One batter later, Jake Fraley doubled to plate Stephenson. 3 Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jake Fraley reaches third base on his RBI double as New York Mets third baseman Ronny Mauricio reacts along side him in the sixth inning at Citi Field in Queens, New York, USA, Saturday, July 19, 2025. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST Mauricio's miscue led to the Mets eventually surrendering the two insurance runs they couldn't afford to allow with a mostly quiet offense struggling again. 'Maybe trying to be a little too quick there, especially knowing the runners from home to first,' manager Carlos Mendoza said. 'You have the catcher there, and maybe just a little too quick there when you know that knowing the runner and the situation there, making sure that you finish the play there. And we didn't do it.' Mauricio, who went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts at the plate, was one of the Mets who received boos from the sold-out crowd at Citi Field. Two innings after the errant throw, after Jeff McNeil led off the eighth by reaching on an error, Mauricio had a chance to extend the Mets' attempt at a rally, but instead, he grounded the first pitch back up the middle and allowed shortstop Elly De La Cruz to easily step on second and snap a throw to first. 3 New York Mets third base Ronny Mauricio (10) strikes out in the seventh inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Citi Field, Friday, July 18, 2025, in Queens, NY. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST He also had a chance to deliver in the first inning with the bases loaded — an opportunity to help the Mets build on an early lead after Mark Vientos' RBI single — but grounded out to second, adding another wrinkle to his rocky 31-game stretch in the majors that followed a return from the torn ACL that cost him all of 2024. At times, Mauricio has flashed his potential and provided a glimpse at the tantalizing power with four homers. CHECK OUT THE LATEST MLB STANDINGS AND METS STATS At other points, he has produced reminders, such as the .096 average and .279 OPS with runners in scoring position he entered Saturday with, for why he's stuck in a three-man logjam at third base with Baty and Vientos. 'He's been really good for us defensively,' Mendoza said of Mauricio's 17 starts at third base. 'Continues to make plays — not only the routine plays, but I feel like he's showing some range and his ability to throw from different angles, coming in to the ball, backhanded. Overall, he's been solid for us there.' But with the Mets needing him to execute a routine play, Mauricio faltered.
New York Times
7 hours ago
- New York Times
David Wright, Mets celebrate ‘unbreakable bond' with number retirement
NEW YORK — As he neared the end of his nine-minute speech Saturday, having watched his No. 5 take up permanent residence on Citi Field's left-field facade, David Wright turned to his three kids on his left. 'My three wonderful kids often use the term 'for real life' when on occasion they're telling the truth,' Wright said. 'To borrow their term, this sure doesn't feel like for real life.' Advertisement Wright became the eighth player in team history to have his number retired — and the first who never wore another uniform. Saturday's party for 5 (and of a sellout crowd of 42,605) had been inevitable in these parts for years — dating to before the New York Mets relaxed their standards for retiring numbers, to his unforgettable last night at Citi Field, to before Wright's playing career even neared its end. There was never going to be another No. 5 in blue and orange. Early in the ceremony, the Citi Field scoreboard presented a video titled 'The Wright Blueprint,' and during his speech, Wright himself outlined the steps it takes to become this kind of professional baseball player — you know, generalizable concepts like being born to Rhon and Elisa Wright and growing up with three ultracompetitive younger brothers consistently pushing you to get better at everything you do. But indeed, Wright is a blueprint for the Mets — the model for what this franchise could be at its best. How do you build a baseball superstar? Start with a kid who grew up rooting for your team even though he lived five states and 350 miles away. Instill in him a work ethic and a preternatural professionalism, one that permitted a person who still says (as Wright did Saturday) he's uncomfortable in the spotlight to never once come across that way in New York City. Promote a genuine humility that fuels self-improvement, season after season, and sets an example for all to follow. Oh, and make sure he's really good at baseball. Wright comprehensively checked those boxes over 14 big-league seasons. For anyone who entered the Mets organization after Wright, he was the archetype. 'He was The Guy you wanted to be like,' said Brandon Nimmo, the only active Met who played with Wright. 'To be able to have that relationship in this game with the fans is something special.' Advertisement That relationship is hard-earned. These are fans who challenge you, their affection not given easily or unconditionally. That much was clear when a 55-43 team earned their ire on multiple occasions in Saturday's 5-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds, its defensive miscues and offensive shortcomings inspiring plenty of booing from hometown faithful. To earn their love — and that indeed is what Wright accomplished over his career with the Mets — takes daily devotion to the craft. Wright began forging that relationship before he even knew it. From his youth in southeastern Virginia, a short drive from the Mets' Triple-A affiliate in Norfolk at the time, Wright embraced all that the Mets were and are — and all that they could be. (Who else would dare thank the Wilpons the way Wright did in front of a sellout crowd?) The Mets were never second fiddle, never the younger brother. (The oldest of four would never.) And so for a generation of Mets fans, Wright will forever be the standard — the player who sparked their appreciation of, their devotion to, their obsession with the Mets. No players may wear No. 5 ever again, but spend a summer weeknight at Citi Field, and you'll see a hundred of those jerseys, in plain white or pinstripes, in black or blue. He could spark that fandom because he understood its heart. 'I view this as an incredible, organic relationship between me and my family and the city, the organization, the fan base,' he said Saturday. 'To me, the Mets' fan base is a blue-collar, bring-your-lunch-pail-to-work kind of fan base. That's how I tried to approach the game each day. I think that's why the relationship with the Mets fan base has become so special.' Thank you, Captain. 🫡 — New York Mets (@Mets) July 19, 2025 Back when he played his last game for the Mets in 2018, Wright struggled with the finality of it. 'I can't sit here and tell you that I'm good with where I'm at right now,' he said seven years ago. 'I'm at peace with the work and the time and the effort and dedication I put into this. But I'm certainly not at peace with the end result.' Advertisement He's found that peace since, he said Saturday, his heart and his brain coming to terms with what his body had dictated. And a large part of that process was understanding what that last game signified. 'To me, that meant the world,' Wright said to the crowd Saturday. 'That night, I fully realized the extent of the relationship I'd developed with the city of New York and particularly this fan base. 'We have truly formed something extraordinary in this game — an 18-year-old kid from Virginia having the privilege of being a lifelong Met and developing an unbreakable bond with the best fan base in baseball.' An unbreakable bond and an immortal legacy. He said that last game felt like yesterday. And Saturday? 'Like the feeling you get when you come home from a long trip.' Earlier in the day, Wright talked about conclusions. 'Very few athletes get the ending they want — that storybook ending,' he said. 'I certainly wouldn't call mine a storybook ending, but it's better than 99 percent of athletes get.' Storybook? Not quite. This was for real life.
