Juan Soto firmly responds to effort criticism after Mets’ loss to Red Sox amid scoring slump

Juan Soto and the New York Mets are enduring a difficult stretch, with their offensive production steadily declining amid rising expectations. Monday’s 3-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox marked their sixth straight game with three or fewer runs scored, during which they’ve posted a 2-4 record.

A central figure in the scrutiny is Soto, the star outfielder whose production has recently cooled. Since May 9, Soto has not recorded a multi-hit game and has gone just 4-for-24 at the plate over his last several appearances. For the season, he holds a slash line of .246/.376/.463 with eight home runs and 20 RBIs — numbers that fall short of the standard set by his historic 15-year, $765 million contract.

Against Red Sox, Soto went 1-for-4, but the conversation quickly shifted from statistics to effort. After not running out a ground ball the night before, Soto was once again under the microscope following a long single on Monday — a deep fly ball that struck the wall but was not stretched into extra bases after he appeared to admire the shot out of the box.

Following the game, Soto addressed the criticism head-on when questioned about his hustle in recent outings: “I think I’ve been hustling pretty hard. If you see it today, you could tell,” he said in defense of his effort, via SNYtv.

Spotlight fades amid Teammates’ strong play

Soto’s current performance stands in contrast to some of his teammates who are flourishing at the plate. Pete Alonso is currently slashing .301/.408/.557 with nine homers and 37 RBIs, while Francisco Lindor has a .279/.347/.463 line with an identical home run tally and 28 RBIs.

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The Mets (29-19) will look to rebound over the next two games in Boston before returning home to face the Los Angeles Dodgers. As the MLB season progresses, the pressure will only intensify — not only on the club but on Soto, whose contract and stature ensure that every at-bat and every play will remain under a magnifying glass.