Tue Jun 24 08:20:00 UTC 2025: **Mets Offense Goes Cold as Braves Take Series Opener, Fall 1.5 Games Back of Phillies**

**NEW YORK** – The New York Mets’ offensive struggles continued Monday night at Citi Field, as they fell to the Atlanta Braves 3-2 in a sweltering series opener. The loss marks the Mets’ ninth defeat in their last ten games, a stretch where they’ve managed a paltry 19 runs outside of a single 11-run outburst against the Phillies.

The once comfortable 5.5-game lead in the NL East has evaporated, with the Mets now trailing the Philadelphia Phillies by 1.5 games.

Manager Carlos Mendoza attributed the slump to early deficits and a struggling bottom half of the lineup. “We’re relying so much on our top guys,” Mendoza stated. “We have a lot of guys in the bottom of the lineup that are going through it right now.”

Since June 11th, the Mets’ 5-9 hitters have posted the lowest batting average (.183) and second-lowest OPS (.534) in the majors. In Monday’s game, the top three hitters – Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo, and Juan Soto – accounted for four of the team’s six hits. The rest of the lineup went a combined 0-for-18.

Despite the team’s woes, Juan Soto has been a bright spot, hitting .324 with a 1.188 OPS and 8 home runs this month. He launched a two-run homer against Braves starter Spencer Schwellenbach in the sixth inning. However, Soto struck out in a crucial at-bat with runners on the corners in the eighth, failing to deliver the tying hit.

“He made a great pitch,” Soto said of the strikeout. “He made really good pitches on the corners, and I just couldn’t come through on the last one.”

Mendoza remains confident in his players but acknowledged the need for improvement. “We need to continue to support the guys,” he said. “But it’s about results, right? So, yeah, we continue to have all the confidence in these guys, but we have to be better.” The Mets look to rebound in the next game of the series against the Braves.

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