NEW YORK (AP) — Devin Williams struck out Starling Marte to strand the bases loaded in the ninth inning and the Milwaukee Brewers hung on for a 3-2 victory over the Mets on Thursday night, dropping New York a season-high nine games under .500 at the halfway point.
The $355 million Mets are 36-45 and have lost 18 of 24. New York hasn’t won a series since sweeping Philadelphia from May 30 through June 1 and have lost two in a row since owner Steve Cohen said manager Buck Showalter and general manager Billy Eppler were not in danger of losing their jobs. New York is nine games under .500 for the first time since Sept. 26, 2021.
Williams loaded the bases when he walked Brandon Nimmo. He struck out Marte with three straight changeups — two of them out of the strike zone — for his third save of the series and 16th in 17 chances this season.
Marte also hit the bases loaded inthe seventh and grounded into an inning-ending double play against Elvis Peguero.
Victor Caratini hit a tying, two-run homer off Max Scherzer in the sixth inning and Brian Anderson hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly against Dominic Leone in the seventh.
Caratini had two of Milwaukee’s seven hits off Scherzer and is 10 for 20 against the 38-year-old, who allowed two runs and struck out nine in six innings.
After Caratini hit his fourth homer, the Brewers went ahead against T.J. McFarland (0-1) and Leone.
William Contreras batted for Jesse Winker and hit an infield single, and McFarland grazed Willy Adames on the top of the right foot. After pinch-hitter Owen Miller legged out an infield single by beating shortstop Francisco Lindor’s throw, Anderson lifted a 375-foot fly ball to the warning track in center.
Brett Baty and Nimmo hit back-to-back homers in the third off Adrian Houser (3-2), who allowed two runs and seven hits in six innings in his first start since June 9.
FRUSTRATED
Scherzer appeared annoyed at plate umpire Ron Kulpa during a check for sticky substances after the fourth. Scherzer engaged in a lengthy conversation with Kulpa and shook his head five times after reaching the dugout.
UP NEXT
Brewers: RHP Freddy Peralta (5-7, 4.88 ERA) opposes Oswaldo Bido (0-1, 3.45) in the opener of a three-game series in Pittsburgh on Friday.
Mets: RHP Carlos Carrasco (2-3, 6.19) opposes San Francisco RHP Alex Cobb (5-2, 3.09) Friday night in the opener of New York’s final home series before the All-Star break.
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