CHICAGO -- The Mets crafted a new lineup in an effort to rouse their scuffling offense, but the results were mixed after the club's ninth straight loss.
Rookie outfielder Carson Benge batted leadoff and went 1-for-4 during Friday's 12-4 defeat to the Cubs at Wrigley Field. He hadn’t hit higher than sixth in the order in any of his first 16 MLB starts.
Shortstop Francisco Lindor, who had been the club’s leadoff hitter in every other game this season, was moved down to third. Lindor went 2-for-4, his sixth multihit performance this season, but grounded into a double play in the third inning with his best chance to do damage after Bo Bichette's leadoff single.
"I went [with Brett] Baty in the three-hole the last game there, and I just thought today, with Benge’s skill set, the way he’s been putting together some at-bats as of late, trying to create some traffic for Francisco, that was all [there was] to it," manager Carlos Mendoza said pregame.
The Mets have a .202/.239/.284 slash line and have scored just 16 runs during their nine-game skid, with 10 of those coming in two games.
New York was also without infielder Jorge Polanco for the second straight game after Mendoza said Polanco is dealing with a right wrist issue on top of the left Achilles bursitis that has been nagging him all season. Polanco underwent an MRI on his wrist Thursday, and the team is waiting to get the results back.
"It was just one of those where, not having Juan [Soto], not having Jorge, even JY [Jared Young], guys that have been hitting in the middle of our lineup," Mendoza said. "Just trying to put Lindor in there, create some traffic and go from there."
Lindor picked up his first home run (and RBI) of the season on Tuesday against the Dodgers, but he is batting just .200 with a .610 OPS through 20 games. Benge hasn’t done much either (.158 average, .466 OPS through 63 plate appearances), but Mendoza was hoping that pushing the Mets' top prospect to the top of the order against Cubs right-hander Edward Cabrera could snap the team’s slump.
The Mets picked up 14 hits Friday, but they stranded seven runners on base and grounded into three double plays. New York has scored more than four runs just four times in its past 18 games.
"We got 14 hits. We created traffic, the at-bats overall [were better]," Mendoza said. "But then we get down six the first couple of innings. We’ve got to be able to put a consistent game here where we’re clicking at our best. Starts, playing defense, offensively, that’s got to start."