Buck Showalter’s solution for his struggling New York Mets seems simple enough.
“Win,” the manager said. “It’s not complicated.”
So far, not much has worked out. The Mets fell a season-worst eight games under .500 after Joey Wiemer hit a go-ahead, two-run homer to straightaway centerfield in the sixth inning that lifted the Milwaukee Brewers to a 2-1 victory on Monday night.
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New York Mets pitcher Justin Verlander reacts during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Monday, June 26, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York, which won 101 games and shared the NL East title last year in Showalter’s first season, is 35-43 despite entering the season with a major league record $355 million payroll. The Mets have lost seven of nine and are 6-15 since completing a three-game sweep of Philadelphia on June 1 — their most recent series win.
“It’s always about now and the heck with what happened last year or or last week or tonight,” Showalter said. “You’ve got to get it fixed.”
Francisco Lindor hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth for the Mets, who trail NL East-leading Atlanta by 16 games and are 8 1/2 games back of the third wild card. New York is eight games under .500 for the first time since ending the 2021 season at 77-85.
“I don’t think anybody saw this coming, man,” said Mets starter Justin Verlander, who threw five scoreless but laborious innings and has a 4.11 ERA in 10 starts since signing an $86.7 million, two-year deal. “Disappointing. It’s disappointing for everybody in this room, I know. It’s disappointing for the fans. Just got to keep trying.”
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Milwaukee Brewers Joey Wiemer (28) is congratulated by Willy Adames after hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Monday, June 26, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Colin Rea (4-4) retired his first eight batters for the Brewers and allowed one run in 6 1/3 innings. Hoby Milner (four outs), Elvis Peguero (one) and Devin Williams (three) completed a three-hitter.
Williams got his 14th save in 15 chances as Milwaukee retired the final 11 Mets in order on just 34 pitches.
“Three hits — kind of tough,” Showalter said. “We pitched pretty well, all things considered. You’d like to take advantage of that, but we didn’t.”
Mileaukee stranded eight runners against Verlander, who gave up five hits and struck out five while throwing 100 pitches.
Wiemer’s 422-foot drive off Drew Smith (3-3) hit off the black fence surrounding the Mets’ celebratory home run apple and rolled about 50 feet away from centerfielder Brandon Nimmo.
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Milwaukee Brewers Joey Wiemer, center, is congratulated by Jesse Winker (33) after hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game as New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez, right, looks on Monday, June 26, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
“Feels good — put a good swing on a good pitch,” said Wiemer, who has 11 homers, tied with Cincinnati’s Spencer Steer for third-most among NL rookies.
The 6 1/3-inning stint was the longest of the season for Rea, who spent most of the last two years pitching in Japan.
“They were aggressive and he made good pitches early in the count,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said.
Milwaukee (41-37) began the night a half-game behind first-place Cincinnati in the NL Central. The Brewers left 11 on base, two shy of their season-high.
“Little frustrating not scoring, we left a bunch of men on base. But if you get to a bullpen after five, there’s a chance,” Counsell said. “And then, obviously, we had a big swing from Joey.”
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New York Mets Francisco Lindor reacts after grounding out during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Monday, June 26, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
RETURN OF THE MCFARLAND
The Mets recalled left-handed reliever T.J. McFarland from Triple-A Syracuse and optioned fellow southpaw Joshua Walker to the same affiliate. McFarland, who pitched for Showalter in Baltimore from 2013-16, was 2-2 with a 2.76 ERA in 23 games for Syracuse.
OOPS
Brewers shortstop Willy Adames created an amusing moment in the fifth, when he caught Francisco Álvarez’s popup and tried tossing the ball into the crowd only to throw it at protective netting. Fans good-naturedly booed Adames, who turned back and grinned as the ball was thrown around the diamond. Third baseman Luis Urías then tossed the ball over the netting into the crowd prior to Brett Baty’s at-bat.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mets: RHP José Quintana (left rib), who threw four innings Sunday in his third rehab start for Class A Brooklyn, will make at least one more minor league appearance.
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Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Joey Wiemer, right, celebrates with Willy Adames (27) after they defeated the New York Mets in a baseball game, Monday, June 26, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
UP NEXT
The Mets are planning to recall LHP David Peterson (1-6, 8.08 ERA) to make a spot start Tuesday. Peterson is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA in six starts for Triple-A Syracuse since being demoted on May 16. Brewers RHP Julio Teheran (2-2, 1.53 ERA) has given up just 23 hits over 35 1/3 innings in his first six starts for Milwaukee.