Mets’ Defensive Woes Doom Them in Series-Opening Loss to Braves

ATLANTA — The Mets’ offensive struggles were compounded by a series of defensive miscues, leading to a disappointing 5-1 loss to the Braves in the series opener at Truist Park on Tuesday.

The Mets managed just four hits on the night, but their inability to make routine plays proved costly. “We didn’t play well,” Carlos Mendoza acknowledged after the game. “We didn’t make a play a couple times.”

The defensive woes began in the first inning with a ground ball to Luisangel Acuña that should have been a routine double play. Acuña fumbled the ball, allowing the runner to reach second base.

The Mets’ defensive failings continued in the third inning. Orlando Arcia’s swinging bunt was fielded by neither Luis Severino nor Francisco Alvarez, who both attempted to make the play. Severino’s errant throw allowed Arcia to reach second base.

“I said, ‘I got it, I got it,’ “ Severino said, “and I think he didn’t hear me.”

Mendoza described the play as being in “no-man’s land.”

“It’s going to be a tough play for Sevy. It’s going to be a tough play for Alvy,” Mendoza said of the error. “We just didn’t get it done. They didn’t make the play, and that kind of got them going.”

The Braves’ offense capitalized on the Mets’ miscues, with Michael Harris II driving in the first run of the game with an RBI double. Starling Marte’s missed cutoff throw allowed Albies to advance to second base, setting up Ramon Laureano’s RBI single.

In the sixth inning, Brandon Nimmo failed to make a play on a sinking liner hit by Gio Urshela, allowing him to reach second base. Nimmo said the ball was hit well and the play was difficult.

“It was hit really, really well and top-spun,” Nimmo said. “One of those plays that’s kind of tough in left field. You get caught in between on those.”

The Mets’ inability to hit and their numerous defensive lapses left them with no chance of winning on Tuesday night.