Mets keep sinking lower in embarrassing season with brutal loss to Braves

· New York Post

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An awful stretch of baseball has turned into a downright race to the bottom of the National League, and the Mets appear well-equipped to win that half-marathon.

Saturday night’s scheduled fireworks at Truist Park were preceded by the stink bombs the Mets lobbed onto the field for three hours in a 14-3 loss to the Braves.

The Mets lost for the 12th time in 16 games (there’s your .250 winning percentage), but more condensed, they are 2-12 since June 20. Just how low can they go?

“Losing is not enjoyable at all; nobody wants to be a part of it,” interim manager Andy Green said.

Only Colorado stood behind them (a half-game worse) in the NL when the day started.

This one was marred by a “run prevention” fiasco: Usually reliable defensively, Tyrone Taylor misplayed a pop-up in the third inning, allowing three gift runs to Atlanta, from which the Mets never recovered.

All the runs were earned, turning Sean Manaea’s final line into something of an eyesore: five innings, six runs, six hits one walk and four strikeouts.

“It was definitely a grind of an outing,” Manaea said.

Tyrone Taylor reacts after striking out during the Mets’ 14-3 blowout loss to the Braves on July 4, 2026 in Atlanta. AP Photo

It was Manaea’s first time allowing more than three earned runs in an appearance since April 29.

If the Mets are going to win a game in this four-game series, their best chance might be Sunday, when Nolan McLean is scheduled to start.

The road trip won’t conclude until Monday, with Freddy Peralta on the mound.

Eli White’s homer in the second produced the game’s first run.

Manaea recorded two quick outs in the inning before White homered on the eighth pitch of his at-bat, blasting a sweeper over the left field fence.

Manaea’s night unraveled in the third, after he plunked Austin Riley to load the bases with two outs.

Tyrone Taylor and Francisco Lindor can’t make a catch during the Mets’ July 4 loss. Getty Images

Michael Harris II delivered an RBI single before White hit a pop-up that should have been the third out.

Francisco Lindor initially called for the ball as he backpedaled, but ceded to Taylor.

As Lindor scurried out of the way, the ball hit off Taylor’s glove and dropped (for a generously ruled three-run double), giving the Braves a 5-0 lead.

Michael Harris II scores during the Braves’ July 4 win Getty Images

“The easiest thing to say is I just blew it; can’t happen,” Taylor said. “Sean is out there working hard, gets a pop-up and I make a bad play. It can’t happen.”

Taylor started as the center fielder to give the Mets an extra right-handed bat against Chris Sale, leaving A.J. Ewing on the bench.

Mauricio Dubón homered in the fourth to extend the Mets deficit to 6-0. It marked the first time this season that Manaea allowed multiple homers in an outing.

Eli White rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the Braves’ July 4 win. AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser

Taylor homered in the fifth — the first blast allowed by Sale in 46 innings (which was the longest active streak by an MLB starting pitcher).

Mark Vientos smashed a two-run homer in the sixth that pulled the Mets to within 6-3.

But the Braves reclaimed the runs in the bottom of the inning against Austin Warren, who surrendered an RBI double to Joey Bart before the Braves extended their lead to 8-3 on Dubón’s groundout.

Sean Manaea prepares to throw a pitch during the Mets’ July 4 loss. AP Photo

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Mike Yastrzemski launched a two-run homer in the seventh against Warren that placed the Mets in a 10-3 hole.

The Mets scored three runs or fewer for a fifth straight game. On this night, they were 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

Joey Gerber allowed a two-run homer in the eighth to Austin Riley, continuing the Braves onslaught.

Luis Torrens replaced Gerber on the mound and allowed a homer to Harris and a single before recording the final out.

“It’s frustrating,” Manaea said. “I don’t think there is any other word than that. We know we are better.”