The Mets trailed 11-4 entering the bottom of the sixth inning, hope waning on a windy and chilly afternoon.
Carlos Mendoza’s offense did not complete a comeback, but it did force the Royals to bring in closer James McArthur for the final three outs after the Mets scored once in the sixth and twice in the eighth.
The Mets’ bats did not ultimately affect the result Saturday, but perhaps the Royals’ bullpen usage will be affected Sunday, a small Mets victory within a loss.
“We could have easily folded it in there towards the later part of the game, but we battled,” Pete Alonso said after the 11-7 loss at Citi Field. “We scored some extra runs, and we got their closer in the game. So hopefully that helps us out [Sunday] and helps us get a series ‘W.’ ”
There were several contributing Mets, but the biggest difference in the club’s offense of late is the fact the Polar Bear has caught fire.
Alonso blasted a pair of solo home runs in the third and sixth innings — his fourth straight multi-hit game — and added an RBI single on a day he reached base in all four plate appearances.
Alonso had started his season slowly and was hitting .167 with a .532 OPS as recently as Monday.
But a lot can change in such a small sample size, and four games later Alonso’s OPS is .963, and he ended the game in a tie for the major league home run lead.
“I’ve just been doing the best I can, stay as disciplined as possible and capitalize on stuff in my zone,” said Alonso, who was not the lone contributor.
Starling Marte (whose defensive error was costly) had three hits, including an eighth-inning home run, and DJ Stewart helped the cause with an RBI double.
The at-bats didn’t translate to a win — but maybe their work will matter Sunday.
“We’re a complete offense,” Alonso said. “We’re not just relying on those one or two big innings throughout the game.”
Kodai Senga threw from 120 feet on flat ground as he begins to build himself up as he rehabs a shoulder strain.
Senga was expected to get on the mound, Mendoza said, though the catcher was not yet going to squat.
Senga, who has been moved to the 60-day injured list, is not eligible to return until May 27.
Sean Reid-Foley (right shoulder impingement) is expected to begin a rehab assignment Sunday with High-A Brooklyn, Mendoza said.
Reid-Foley, who was moved to the 15-day injured list as the season began, is expected to pitch an inning.
The Mets stacked their lineup with lefty batters against righty Alec Marsh, giving righty-hitting Harrison Bader a day off as Brandon Nimmo moved to center, Jeff McNeil played left and Joey Wendle started at second.
Francisco Alvarez was out of the lineup after starting two straight days at catcher.
Alvarez has yet to catch three days straight, though Mendoza said he will at some point “pretty soon.”
“Lefty going tomorrow, day game after a night game,” Mendoza said in explaining the day off. Omar Narvaez got the start and went 0-for-4.
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