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David Peterson’s latest ugly clunker sinks Mets in loss to Diamondbacks
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- David Peterson’s latest ugly clunker sinks Mets in loss to Diamondbacks
Mets lose
David Peterson pretended he was the weather and remained cold Wednesday.
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On a chilly afternoon at Citi Field — even with first pitch moved up three hours for a second straight day because of the numbing forecast — Peterson's performance quickly transformed the ballpark from refrigerator to freezer.
Buried in a five-run hole early, the Mets never recovered in a 7-2 loss to the Diamondbacks that snapped their four-game winning streak.
Mr. Freeze, whether played by Otto Preminger, George Sanders or Eli Wallach, was Peterson's equal on this day.
The only redeeming quality of the left-hander's second straight clunker was he persevered and lasted through the fifth. Overall, he allowed five earned runs on six hits with six strikeouts and two walks.
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"A lot of it comes down to leaving balls up and away," Peterson said.
Manager Carlos Mendoza said he isn't concerned about Peterson, who struggled against the Giants last week.
"If he's healthy, which he is, there is no concern," Mendoza said. "He's too good of a pitcher, he's been our guy. We have just got to make a couple of adjustments."
Sean Manaea , who before the game Mendoza said would remain in the bullpen rather than pitch as part of a six-man rotation, was utilized for an extended relief appearance in a second straight Peterson start.
Manaea threw 70 pitches over four innings on this day to not only save the bullpen for the second time in less than a week, but remain stretched out should the need eventually arise for him to enter the rotation.
David Peterson wears a frustrated expression on the mound during the second inning of the Mets' 7-2 loss to the Diamondbacks on April 8, 2026 at Citi Field. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Offensively, the Mets mustered only a 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position, in their first loss since Juan Soto departed last Friday's game.
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Soto has since been placed on the injured list with a right calf strain.
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Corbin Carroll 's double in the first inning led to the D'backs initial run. Geraldo Perdomo singled and Gabriel Moreno 's sacrifice fly brought in Carroll.
Ketel Marte stroked a bases-loaded RBI single in the second that extended the Mets' deficit to 2-0.
Mark Vientos walks back to the dugout after striking out during the sixth inning of the Mets' loss to the Diamondbacks. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Carroll's ensuing two-run double further buried Peterson, and before the inning was complete, Perdomo's sacrifice fly gave the D'backs a 5-0 lead. Peterson's trouble in the inning started with the successive singles he allowed to Ildemaro Vargas and Jose Fernandez.
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"Not only are teams super aggressive against him, especially early in counts, but [Peterson] is having a hard time executing pitches glove side, meaning inside to righties and there's a lot of pitches out over the plate and there's hard contact there," Mendoza said. "I thought he made some good adjustments after they got him there in the second inning, but I think it's just the execution part, for the last couple of turns you have seen that."
In a moment of levity Mark Vientos signaled the crowd to increase the applause after a mock cheer as he caught Vargas' pop-up in the third inning. Moments earlier Vientos had misplayed a Vargas pop up in foul territory, extending the at-bat.
Brett Baty 's RBI single in the sixth pulled the Mets to within 5-1. Bo Bichette and Luis Robert Jr. each singled in the inning before Baty delivered his sixth RBI of the season, tying him for the team lead.
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Jorge Barrosa 's two-run double (a ball that should have been caught) off Robert's glove in the eighth inning widened the Mets' deficit to 7-1. Manaea loaded the bases in the inning by allowing two singles and a walk.
Vientos' sacrifice fly in the eighth recovered a run after Robert and Baty reached on a single and double, respectively.
Peterson could take a measure of satisfaction in his performance after his rocky two-inning stretch at the start.
"I think the third through the fifth [innings] we did a lot better job," Peterson said. "I felt a little off mechanically the first two innings. I was able to clean that up and get to where I wanted to be."
