Pete Alonso Did Everything – But the Mets Still Crumbled in the 10th Against the Braves

In a game where Pete Alonso and David Peterson delivered everything the New York Mets could have asked for, the team still walked away from Truist Park with a soul-crushing 5-4 loss in 10 innings to the Atlanta Braves. Despite holding a 4-1 lead in the eighth inning and a strong performance from their ace, the Mets couldn’t stop another episode of late-inning magic from Atlanta — especially when facing the ghosts of their recent past in Georgia.

The Collapse Begins in the Eighth

David Peterson, coming off a complete-game shutout against the Nationals, looked in full control for most of the night. He pitched seven innings, giving up just three earned runs on five hits with three walks and three strikeouts on 93 pitches. But the eighth inning would be his undoing.

After allowing a walk to Nick Allen and a single to Ronald Acuña Jr., Mets manager Carlos Mendoza made the call to the bullpen. Reed Garrett entered with a mission to preserve the lead — but things spiraled quickly. A single by Alex Verdugo loaded the bases, and after Garrett secured two outs, Marcell Ozuna hammered a splitter into the gap for a bases-clearing double that knotted the game at 4-4.

Missed Signs and Regret from the Catcher’s Mask

The pitch selection raised eyebrows and questions. Garrett, who initially wanted to throw a fastball, was guided by Francisco Alvarez to go with the splitter. The decision haunted the young catcher after the game.

“I made maybe a mistake in that situation,” Alvarez admitted. “I feel very badly for that.”

Despite the self-blame, Garrett stood by his catcher.

“Alvy called my swing-and-miss pitch,” Garrett said. “I could have executed a little better. We could have gotten a little luckier.”

But that wasn’t Alvarez’s only moment of reflection. In the 10th inning, with runners on second and third after a wild pitch, Alvarez threw to second base instead of attempting to catch Luke Williams in a rundown between third and home — a moment he now regrets.

“It’s a reaction play,” Alvarez said. “But now after the play, I think it would have been better to eat the ball.”

Walk-Off Woes: Riley Ends It

With the score tied in extras, Huascar Brazobán entered the game and intentionally walked Acuña Jr. to put runners on first and second with none out. Verdugo grounded out, advancing the runners, and Matt Olson was walked to load the bases.

Then came the dagger.

Austin Riley sent a deep drive to center field, caught at the warning track by Tyrone Taylor, but it was deep enough to allow Williams to tag and score — walking it off for Atlanta.

The Braves celebrated a thrilling comeback victory, while the Mets trudged off the field with their fourth straight loss — another painful reminder of how quickly things can unravel in a ballpark that has been unkind to them.

Pete Alonso’s All-Around Night Spoiled

Pete Alonso may not have driven in a run, but his presence was felt all over the field — from powerful contact to daring baserunning. Unfortunately, a sequence in the ninth inning added to the Mets’ misery.

After Juan Soto led off with a single, Alonso crushed a deep fly to center. Acuña Jr. made a leaping grab at the wall, and Soto, who hesitated in case the ball hit the fence, was doubled off first base. Soto blamed the first base umpire Edwin Jimenez for a late signal.

“I just feel like he took way too long to make the decision,” Soto said. “He just put me in a tough spot.”

Offensive Highlights Drowned by Defeat

It was a promising offensive night for the Mets — at least early on:

• Juan Soto blasted a first-inning solo homer, his fifth of June, continuing a scorching month in which he entered the game with a 1.146 OPS.

• In the second inning, Tyrone Taylor dropped a bloop two-run double that gave the Mets a 3-0 lead.

• Taylor struck again in the fifth, hitting a solo shot off an 0-2 splitter for his second homer of the season, stretching the lead to 4-1.

The Braves slowly chipped away. After a two-out walk to Acuña in the third, singles from Eli White and Matt Olson cut the Mets’ lead to 3-1 before Peterson escaped further damage.

Control Lost — And So Was the Game

Even with strong pitching and solid offensive performances, miscues in clutch moments, miscommunication, and defensive lapses cost the Mets a valuable win.

Peterson shouldered some of the blame for starting the eighth with a walk, but his overall performance reinforced how reliable he has become in the rotation.

“I didn’t put us in a great spot with the start of the eighth,” Peterson said. “It’s a good team over there and they were able to fight through until the end.”

Looking Ahead: What’s Next for the Mets?

The New York Mets are now fighting momentum — but in the wrong direction. With a four-game skid and a bullpen that’s been shaky in recent outings, pressure is mounting to reset the course.

Alvarez, despite his misjudgments, is still one of the franchise’s young cornerstones, and Garrett’s willingness to back his catcher shows signs of clubhouse unity. But moral victories don’t count in the standings, especially when playing in a loaded NL East.

The Mets will need to lean on veterans like Alonso, Soto, and Peterson to snap this streak — and they’ll need to tighten their execution in pressure-packed moments, especially against familiar rivals like the Braves who, no matter the season, always seem to find a way to win in dramatic fashion.