Mickey Callaway had a simple explanation for Travis d’Arnaud’s slow start to the season.
“It’s almost like everything he’s doing is not working,’’ the manager said after another rough night for the backup catcher in the Mets’ 8-6 loss to the Brewers on Saturday.
Coming back from Tommy John surgery, d’Arnaud entered Saturday hitless in his previous nine at-bats and just 1-for-20 on the season, which led to the Citi Field crowd booing him even before he came up in the second inning with two on and two out.
Things only got worse, as d’Arnaud flied to right.
He struck out in the fourth then ripped a ball into the left field corner in the seventh, but was thrown out at second for the first out in what turned into a four-run inning that left the Mets down by just a run.
D’Arnaud also allowed a passed ball in the first with Noah Syndergaard on the mound. After getting Lorenzo Cain with a throw that bounced to second in the fourth, d’Arnaud airmailed a throw to center trying to get Yasmani Grandal an inning later.
“It’s not where I want it to be,’’ d’Arnaud said of his game after the loss.
His biggest regret was getting thrown out at second.
“That was an accumulation of everything with me,’’ d’Arnaud said. “I was probably being too aggressive being down by four runs.”
And he also didn’t argue with the fans’ right to get on him.
“They want me to play better,’’ d’Arnaud said of the negative reaction. “I understand. I have to keep working.”
Callaway sympathized with d’Arnaud’s struggles.
“It’s been a long road,’’ Callaway said. “A year off is not easy. To play at the major league level sparingly is a tough task. I’m sure he is frustrated.”
The Mets’ regular catcher, Wilson Ramos, hasn’t been much better, just 9-for-53 with one extra-base hit in his past 17 games. Tomas Nido and Rene Rivera scuffle at the plate with Triple-A Syracuse and Devin Mesoraco remains on the restricted list after refusing a minor league assignment with the club.
Pete Alonso entered play Saturday in his first real drought of the season — 3-for-20 (.150) — but Callaway wasn’t worried.
“We were talking about him this morning and he’s watching video and he feels like he knows what is going on,” Callaway said. “He talks about how bad his at-bats were [Friday], so it’s not like he’s just satisfied where he’s at.”
Alonso delivered a three-run blast to left in the seventh inning, but it wasn’t enough to give the Mets a win.
It was Alonso’s ninth homerof the year, as he tied the franchise record for most home runs by the end of April. The mark is shared by Neil Walker, John Buck, Carlos Delgado and Dave Kingman.
“That’s really cool,” Alonso said of matching the record. “I’m just trying to help the team win.”
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the only rookies with more homers through the end of April have been Jose Abreu (10 in 2014), Trevor Story (10 in 2016) and Aaron Judge (10 in 2017).
Alonso, though, wasn’t happy with the errant throw he made in the first inning, when the Mets nearly caught Cain off second base, as Jeff McNeil raced in from left to cover the base. Alonso’s throw sailed into left and Cain scored.
“I was trying to make a baseball play,’’ the first baseman said. “If I had made a better throw, we probably would have got him.’’
Corey Oswalt was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse a day after he allowed four earned runs over three innings in a second straight ineffective relief appearance. Drew Gagnon was recalled and added to the bullpen.
The Mets are honoring tickets from Friday’s game — which started following a rain delay of nearly three hours — for any remaining Monday-Thursday game at Citi Field this season (excluding the Subway Series). Exchanges for tickets will be available only at the ballpark’s box office.