SEATTLE — The Mets aren’t getting paid by the inning, but have played this season as if that were the case.
They entered Tuesday having already participated in 12 extra-inning games — tops in MLB — with victories in seven. The latest such game was Monday night when they managed only two hits over nine innings and lost 3-2 to the Mariners in the 10th.
It was a second extra-inning game in four days for the Mets. As they began play on Tuesday they had logged 16 extra innings this season (almost two full games), adding strain on a bullpen that has been stretched thin.
The franchise record for extra-inning games is 25, set in 1978. The Mets are on pace for 31 extra-inning games, roughly 20 percent of their schedule.
“Extra-inning games are great when you win them,” Jared Young said after Monday’s loss.
Why so much free baseball played by the Mets? Such is the result of an offense that has largely sputtered this season, averaging only four runs, while the pitching staff has kept the team close enough to win. The Mets entered the day with a minus-14 run differential.
The Mets have already deployed 24 pitchers this season, a number likely boosted by the extra innings the team has needed to cover.
The most recent arrival, left-hander Cionel Pérez, was selected to the major league roster after Friday’s 10-inning victory over the Marlins. Tobias Myers, who pitched an inning that night, was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse.
“It’s not ideal,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “It’s a combination of a lot of extra-inning games and then some of our starters not providing length, but that’s part of it. You have got to keep going, you have got to find a way. I feel like we have been playing a lot of close games.”
A look at the Mets in extras:
Mets 4, Pirates 2 (March 28): Luis Robert Jr. hit a walk-off three-run homer in the 11th inning after the Pirates had scored a run against Richard Lovelady in the top of the frame.
Pirates 4, Mets 3 (March 29): Lovelady allowed a go-ahead single to Henry Davis in the 10th inning.
Cardinals 2, Mets 1 (April 1): Masyn Winn’s bloop single to right against Myers in the 11th inning ended it after the previous batter, Alec Burleson, grounded into a double play.
Mets 4, D’backs 3 (April 7): Ronny Mauricio, who had just arrived from Syracuse, stroked a walk-off single in the 10th inning against Paul Sewald. The Mets had rallied to tie the game in the eighth.
Cubs 2, Mets 1 (April 19): Craig Kimbrel’s wild pitch in the 10th inning at Wrigley Field moved automatic runner Pete Crow-Armstrong to third base before Nico Hoerner’s sacrifice fly won it.
Angels 4, Mets 3 (May 2): Oswald Peraza’s single in the 10th inning ended it after the Angels had loaded the bases against Austin Warren (including the automatic runner).
Mets 3, D’backs 1 (May 8): Mark Vientos and Carson Benge each delivered an RBI double in the 10th inning after the Mets had only three hits in the first nine.
Mets 3, Tigers 2 (May 13): Benge’s 10th-inning single at Citi Field brought in another rookie, A.J. Ewing, with the winning run. The Mets rallied from a 2-1 deficit in the seventh inning.
Mets 7, Yankees 6 (May 17): Tyrone Taylor’s dramatic three-run homer with two outs in the ninth tied it before the Mets won on Benge’s RBI fielder’s choice, giving Subway Series bragging rights to the Mets.
Mets 16, Nationals 7 (May 18): The Mets scored 10 runs in the 12th inning (including three against a position player, Jorbit Vivas). The outburst was the most runs scored in an extra inning in franchise history.
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Mets 9, Marlins 7 (May 29): MJ Melendez hit a walk-off two-run homer against Pete Fairbanks in the 10th inning.
Mariners 3, Mets 2 (June 1): Cole Young’s bloop single in the 10th inning against A.J. Minter was the game winner after automatic runner Randy Arozarena stole third base.