The script was there for top prospect Francisco Alvarez, who stepped to the plate as the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth on Friday, with the bases loaded and the Mets down 5-2 in the team's biggest game of the season.
Instead, Alvarez lost control of his bat on a strikeout swing against Kenley Jansen, the Mets lost the game, and lost sole possession of first place in the NL East.
It was the second time Alvarez lost his bat on a swing in his MLB debut.
"It's super rare that that happens," Alvarez said. "This whole season it only happened one other time, and today it happened twice."
It was hardly an enviable task for Alvarez in his first big-league game, taking on one of the best pitchers in the league in Max Fried before trying to play the hero against Jansen in the biggest game of the season. But Alvarez has shown elite offensive ability in the minor leagues all season, hitting 27 home runs, and the Mets are confident he can be a contributor down the stretch.
But his first major league hit will have to wait another day.
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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