The New York Mets suffered their 10th consecutive defeat, falling 4-2 to the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Saturday. Pinch-hitter Carson Kelly delivered a three-run homer in the sixth inning off Brooks Raley, breaking a 1-1 tie. New York, now 7-14 with baseball's worst record, matched its worst 21-game start since 1983.
Freddy Peralta took the mound for the Mets in his first start against the Cubs as a member of New York, after previously dominating them with nine wins and 131 strikeouts while with the Brewers. The game remained scoreless until the second inning, when Ian Happ homered to tie it at 1-1 following Mark Vientos' solo shot for the Mets. Peralta retired the first two batters in the sixth before walking Happ and Seiya Suzuki, prompting manager Carlos Mendoza to summon left-hander Raley with rookie Moisés Ballesteros due up. Cubs skipper Craig Counsell countered with Kelly, who crushed a first-pitch cutter 405 feet into the left-field bleachers for a 4-1 lead—his first pinch-hit homer since 2021 and Chicago's first of the season. The Mets added a run in the eighth on a throwing error but stranded runners, falling short against closer Caleb Thielbar. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza acknowledged the frustration in the clubhouse, saying, “They have all the right to be pissed and frustrated. ... I’m pissed. They’re pissed.” He emphasized the need for complete games, noting deficiencies in offense, starting pitching, and defense during the skid, where New York has been outscored 60-18. The Cubs improved to 11-9 with their fourth straight win, as Counsell praised Kelly's hot start at .340 with a .970 OPS. Kelly said, “Just looking for a good pitch to drive.” New York's $370 million payroll ranks second in MLB, yet the team sits tied for last through 21 games, last matching 10 losses in a row in 2004.
