Mets can't recover from another late slip, concede walk-off loss to Dodgers

LOS ANGELES — This season's matchups between the Mets and Dodgers have been decided on the razor-thin margins, and Tuesday night was no exception.

The Mets carried a one-run lead into the ninth inning but their beleaguered bullpen could not defend it as Huascar Brazoban served up a game-tying home run to Max Muncy — his second of the night.

They could not replicate their extra-inning magic from Monday and in the bottom of the 10th inning, one blip cost them. With two runners on base and one out, Freddie Freeman drove a slicing fly ball to the warning track in left field.

Brandon Nimmo, who had been playing shallow to guard against a potential base hit, went surging back, looking over his right shoulder. As he approached the wall, the ball cut out of sight and he could not adjust in time as the ball fell for a walk-off RBI double as the Mets slipped, 6-5, on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium.

"I was very surprised to find it on the other shoulder," Nimmo said. "Obviously, a very unfortunate time for that to happen."

Mets-Dodgers continues to deliver

The late-game situation was a near carbon copy of the Mets' 4-3 extra-inning win one night earlier. Only this time, Tanner Scott who had given up two runs on a pair of hits from Francisco Alvarez and Francisco Lindor on Monday, recorded three straight outs, including striking out Juan Soto and Pete Alonso.

Jose Butto, who recorded the final two outs on Monday, gave up the decisive hit.

The Mets, who used six relievers to nail down the series-opening victory, ran out of steam and wasted a gritty effort from Tylor Megill, who shook off a four-run opening inning to deliver six crucial innings.

The loss snapped the Mets' four-game win streak and moved them to 3-2 on the season against the Dodgers. They have two more chances to grab the season series on Wednesday and Thursday.

"Two really good teams playing really good baseball, back and forth," Carlos Mendoza said. "We got down, we punched back and then we got to the ninth inning and they punch back with Muncy obviously. A lot of good players on the field, and it's the big leagues, right? You appreciate that when you got so many superstars performing at their best."

Tylor Megill's gritty effort wasted

Jun 3, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; New York Mets pitcher Tylor Megill (38) throws a pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

After a disastrous opening inning, it would have been easy to write off Megill.

With the Mets right-hander allowing four earned runs and throwing 32 pitches to the defending World Series champions in the bottom of the first inning, things looked bleak.

With the Mets leading 1-0, Megill gave up a one-out single to Mookie Betts and then left a sinker over the outside corner that Freeman shot down the right-field line for a RBI single. The Dodgers took the lead on a groundout by Will Smith and grew their lead to 4-2 when Muncy deposited a high fastball into the right field seats for a two-run home run.

"Obviously got my teeth kicked in there in the first but just settled in and just told myself, 'One pitch at a time,' no more after that," Megill said. "I know the team would come through and get some runs going across the board."

On a day when Megill was counted upon to give the Mets length, the 29-year-old managed to not only find his footing but completely stymie the Dodgers over the next five innings.

After Muncy's first home run, Megill retired the next nine batters he faced before giving up a two-out double to Andy Pages in the bottom of the fourth inning. Megill struck out Michael Conforto on a fastball in the next at-bat.

It was Megill's handle of his slider that enabled him to get through six innings. He threw the breaking ball 33 times and induced 13 of his 18 whiffs on the pitch, including four of his seven strikeouts.

"It's a great pitch, holds the fastball line really well," Megill said. "They were really aggressive to the heater early on, swinging at them and once I started implemented the slider, I was getting a lot of chase, getting a lot of swing and miss and that kind of just allowed everything else to kind of open up."

Mendoza sent the righty back out at 93 pitches in the sixth inning and he repaid the favor with a 1-2-3 frame against the heart of the Dodgers' lineup, including a strikeout of Teoscar Hernandez.

Juan Soto, Pete Alonso spark initial comeback effort

Jun 3, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto (22) reacts with shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) after hitting a two run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the third inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

The Mets had a lead in the opening frame on an RBI single by Alonso and then kept plugging away against the Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw until they were back out in front after Megill's rough start.

Lindor led off the top of the third inning with a single up the middle and Juan Soto got the Mets back within 4-3 on a two-run home run to right field. It was Soto's third home run in his last four games, giving him 11 home runs and 30 RBI on the season.

"Too good of a hitter. He continues to put together some good at-bats," Mendoza said. "Today, obviously left on left got us back in the game. Yeah, he's fine."

The top of the Mets' lineup continued to provide a spark in the top of the fifth inning as Lindor reached on a walk and Starling Marte on an error by Muncy at third base. Alonso tied the score with an RBI double into the left-center field gap and then Nimmo put the Mets ahead 5-4 by beating out Kershaw to first base on a chopper to the right side.

But the Mets were held scoreless by the Dodgers' bullpen over the last 5⅓ innings while the Dodgers came alive in the ninth and 10th innings. Another close matchup came down to a ball that found the dirt at the base of the right-field wall.

"It's unfortunate when a game like that ends on a play like that because it's been so good and such high intensity and good baseball," Nimmo said. "That's the way it goes sometimes."