MILWAUKEE — Two bombs in as many innings to start the game and then zip, nada, nothing for the Mets.
An offensively challenged team kept the bad times rolling Friday night, this time against a top-tier starting pitcher who, aside from two pitches, manhandled manager Carlos Mendoza’s lineup.
The weak offensive production coupled with a blah start from Kodai Senga spelled a 3-2 loss to the Brewers at American Family Field for the Mets’ fifth straight defeat and ninth in 10 games.
It ended on a hit: Starling Marte was nailed at the plate for the final out on Jeff McNeil’s single to center.
Marte, attempting to score from second following a two-out double against Trevor Megill, was tagged out by catcher William Contreras on a strong throw from Blake Perkins.
The Mets managed just five hits only hours after president of baseball operations David Stearns expressed confidence the team would emerge from its latest offensive drought.
Stearns also indicated hitting coaches Eric Chavez and Jeremy Barnes weren’t the problem.
For a third straight game, the Mets were held to two runs or fewer. They have totaled six hits in their past two games combined.
Brandon Woodruff inflicted most of the misery on this night by allowing two runs (on homers by Juan Soto and Marte) on three hits over seven innings with eight strikeouts and two walks.
The Brewers, who own MLB’s best record (71-44), won their seventh straight.
In his fourth straight uninspiring start, Senga lasted just 4 ¹/₃ innings and surrendered three runs, two of which were unearned, on two hits and three walks with two strikeouts.
He was removed at 79 pitches with the bases loaded in the fifth.
Senga has reached five innings only once in his five starts since returning from the injured list July 11.
Soto’s second homer in as many at-bats gave the Mets their initial run.
Soto, whose ninth-inning blast Wednesday was the team’s only hit against the Guardians, jumped on a 2-2 sinker from Woodruff in the first inning and cleared the right field fence.
Marte’s homer leading off the second extended the Mets lead to 2-0. It was the fifth homer this season for Marte and his first since June 5 at Dodger Stadium.
The Brewers wasted Caleb Durbin’s double leading off the third.
Durbin didn’t help matters by getting thrown out attempting to reach third on Joey Ortiz’s grounder to shortstop.
Francisco Lindor threw to Ronny Mauricio at third, erasing the lead runner for the first out.
Brice Turang hammered a two-run homer in the fifth to tie it 2-2. Senga booted Perkins’ chopper for an error and Turang jumped on the next pitch, a cutter, and launched it beyond the right field fence.
Senga has surrendered five homers in his past four starts. He allowed only four over his first 14 starts this season.
Francisco Alvarez was called for catcher’s interference, allowing Sal Frelick to reach base following a walk to Ortiz with one out.
After Contreras walked to load the bases, Senga was replaced by Brooks Raley, who plunked Isaac Collins to force in the go-ahead run.
But with the bases loaded, Raley struck out Christian Yelich and got Andrew Vaughn to hit into a fielder’s choice, keeping the Mets deficit at 3-2.
The last real opportunity for the Mets against Woodruff occurred in the fourth, when Brandon Nimmo walked and McNeil delivered a one-out single before Alvarez hit into an inning-ending double play.
Raley, Ryne Stanek, Gregory Soto and Tyler Rogers combined to hold the Brewers scoreless over the final 3 ²/₃ innings.
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