The New York Mets\u2019 unfathomable losing streak went to 11 on Sunday, with perhaps their harshest loss yet. Devin Williams couldn\u2019t hold a 1-0 lead in the ninth inning, and Nico Hoerner\u2019s 10th-inning sacrifice fly off Craig Kimbrel walked it off for the Chicago Cubs in a 2-1 win at Wrigley Field.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s tough, especially when you\u2019re going through it,\u201d manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters in Chicago. \u201cWhen you\u2019re playing one-run games, you have to be perfect, and it\u2019s hard to play like that. It\u2019s a tough stretch right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
New York\u2019s 11-game losing streak is its worst since 2004. The Mets haven\u2019t lost 12 in a row since 2002. Their 7-15 start ties for the third-worst in franchise history with the 1983 season. Only 5-17 starts in 1962 and 1964 \u2014 the lovable-loser years of the then-expansion franchise \u2014 are worse.<\/p>\n
For eight innings, this was set up to be a day of unexpected heroes for New York. Recent call-up MJ Melendez had provided the game\u2019s only run with a solo shot off Javier Assad in the fifth inning. David Peterson, demoted from the rotation into a bulk role behind Tobias Myers, tossed 3 2\/3 scoreless innings in the middle of the game.<\/p>\n
Handed that slim lead in the ninth, however, Williams allowed a leadoff single to Ian Happ and a one-out RBI double to pinch hitter and former longtime Met Michael Conforto. It was Williams\u2019 first save opportunity \u2014 and just the third time he\u2019s pitched \u2014 in the last two weeks.<\/p>\n
In the 10th, consecutive pop-ups from Mark Vientos and Tyrone Taylor didn\u2019t move the bonus runner, so Marcus Semien\u2019s two-out infield single didn\u2019t score a run. Luis Torrens struck out to end the inning.<\/p>\n
Semien\u2019s hit was the Mets\u2019 only one with runners in scoring position on the day.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn big situations, we haven\u2019t come through. Sometimes baseball is on your side, and sometimes baseball is not on your side,\u201d Francisco Lindor told reporters. \u201cWe can\u2019t feel sorry for ourselves. We\u2019ve got to bring it.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the bottom of the frame, Kimbrel\u2019s wild pitch moved bonus runner Pete Crow-Armstrong to third, allowing Hoerner to win it with a fly ball.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhether it\u2019s April or any point in the season, 11 losses is a lot,\u201d Mendoza said. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to find a way.\u201d<\/p>\n