Dropping the Series Opener: Mets 4, Dbacks 3
Apr 7, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno (14) is hit by a pitch thrown by New York Mets pitcher Freddy Peralta (not pictured) during the fifth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images The Arizona Diamondbacks dropped the series opener to the New York Mets on Tuesday, falling 4-3 in extra innings after squandering a late lead. Leading 3-2 into the eighth, the D-backs watched the game slip away as the bullpen allowed tying and winning runs against Jonathan Loaisiga and Paul Sewald.
This felt like a painfully familiar script for a team built on thin margins: a solid starting pitching effort undermined by an anemic offense and late-inning bullpen trouble. Anyone who has followed this roster closely knows these issues all too well. The D-backs’ entire offensive output came in the fifth inning.
After a successful challenge overturned a third-strike call on Adrian Del Castillo with the bases loaded, he lined the next pitch into right field for a two-run single. Nolan Arenado followed with an RBI double to give Arizona a 3-2 lead. That was it.
For the rest of the game — including a brutal extra-inning frame — the offense went silent. Arizona finished a dismal 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position. They repeatedly stranded opportunities, leaving runners on base in key spots and failing to capitalize when it mattered most.
Two runs simply aren’t enough in most games, no matter how well the pitching performs. Zac Gallen delivered a quality start, tossing five innings and allowing just one earned run. He navigated a bumpy first inning in which the Mets’ first three batters reached base, escaping with only one run thanks to a timely strikeout and a pair of flyouts.