New York Mets ace Justin Verlander is booed in his highly anticipated Citi Field debut as he allows two home runs and six runs during just five innings of work in Tampa Bay Rays hammering
- Justin Verlander serenaded a chorus of boos as the Mets lost 8-5 on Tuesday
- Isaac Paredes drove in both home runs, drawing the disapproval from the fans
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New York Mets adventure Justin Verlander made his highly anticipated Citi Field debut on Tuesday and it went as horribly as you can imagine.
The 40-year-old Verlander (1-2) served both long balls to Isaac Paredes and gave up six runs on eight hits in five innings in his third start for the giddy Mets, leading to him being serenaded with a chorus of anger.
Paredes homered twice and drove in five runs, ruining Verlander’s home debut as the Tampa Bay Rays rolled to an 8–5 win for the night.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner was originally scheduled to start the home opener in early April, but began the season on the injured list with a pulled muscle in his upper back.
He returned on May 4 and made his first two starts for New York on the road.
New York Mets Justin Verlander’s Citi Field debut went as horribly as you can imagine
Verlander gave up two home runs and six runs before fans were booed after the fifth inning
The Tampa Bay Rays improved their record to 32-11 after the 8-5 victory against the Mets
You could also say that the boos were aimed at the entire team on the field, as the Mets have been putting in a huge amount of effort lately than expected.
With a major league record $355 million in payroll, New York (20-23) fell to 6-16 since a 14-7 start and fell three games below .500 for the first time since finishing 77-85 in 2021.
Jose Siri also went deep and Harold Ramírez had two RBI singles of his three hits for the Rays, which broke baseball’s leading record to 32-11.
Yonny Chirinos (2-1) retired 14 in relief after opener Jalen Beeks threw two scoreless innings.
New York trailed 6-0 before Brett Baty homered and Pete Alonso launched a two-run shot.
Pinch-hitter Eduardo Escobar hit a two-run homer in the ninth off Jake Diekman.
Mets rookie Kodai Senga (4-2, 4.14 ERA) was scheduled to start the middle game of the series on Wednesday night.
LHP Josh Fleming (0-0, 4.26) is expected to pitch for Tampa Bay either as an opener or bulk reliever.