Baseball
Baseball
Mets Fall to Dodgers as Soto Exits with Lingering Calf Issue
The New York Mets dropped their Friday night series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-2 at Citi Field, a game overshadowed by the sixth-inning departure of star slugger Juan Soto due to left calf soreness. This latest setback for Soto, who had been dealing with the issue for over a week, occurred in a tied contest, raising concerns despite interim manager Andy Green's pre-game assurances that Soto felt strong enough to play.
Soto, who had been limited to designated hitter duties since tweaking his calf, walked twice in his two plate appearances before Jorge Polanco pinch-hit for him in the sixth. This left calf issue is distinct from a right calf strain that previously sidelined him for two and a half weeks in April. Despite Green’s hope to put the calf discussions behind them, the injury has persisted, causing Soto to sit out the Brewers series finale just days prior to Friday’s game.
On the mound, Mets starter Sean Manaea delivered a solid performance, limiting the potent Dodgers offense to just one run on six hits and two walks while striking out three over six innings. Manaea navigated through early traffic, including a leadoff double in the third, and was aided by his defense, particularly Carson Benge’s arm in right field, which cut down a runner at the plate in the sixth.
However, Manaea’s effort was undone by the Mets’ bullpen. The Dodgers broke the 1-1 tie with a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning, and the Mets’ relievers subsequently allowed the Dodgers to pull ahead, squandering Manaea’s strong outing. The Dodgers’ offense was jumpstarted by Luis Robert Jr., who crushed a 381-foot home run in the first inning for his fourth of the season.
Sources
