For Mets Offense, ‘the Message Was Sent, and We Got It’

The free-swinging team had been in free-fall when Steven Cohen snapped, criticizing the offense. An extra-innings win on Wednesday turned the volume down.

The Mets held a four-game lead in the National League East on the morning of Aug. 1. They woke up on Wednesday in third place, four and a half games behind the Atlanta Braves. They also awoke to a blustery tweet from their owner, Steve Cohen. “It’s hard to understand how professional hitters can be this unproductive,” Cohen tweeted on Wednesday morning, while most of the Mets were in San Francisco, probably sleeping off a five-game losing streak. “The best teams have a more disciplined approach. The slugging and OPS numbers don’t lie.” Hours later, the Mets responded with eight empty innings against a parade of Giants pitchers. They recovered just in time, tying the game in the ninth and winning it, 6-2, in 12 innings. It was the Mets’ first victory this month against a team with a winning record.