The New York Mets handed the Tampa Bay Rays a convincing 10-4 defeat at Tropicana Field on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, with Griffin Jax taking the loss after surrendering six earned runs on seven hits in just 2.2 innings. Juan Soto homered and drove in a run for New York, while Brett Baty and Nick Morabito each delivered three-RBI performances to fuel a Mets offense that put this one out of reach early. Richie Palacios hit the lone Rays home run, a two-run shot, but Tampa Bay's pitching staff could not contain a New York lineup that spread the damage across multiple innings and contributors.

Mets Offense Chips Away Early, Then Breaks the Game Open

New York wasted little time making life difficult for Jax. The right-hander faced a relentless parade of hitters, allowing seven hits and two walks before the Rays bullpen was forced into action before the third inning was complete. Jax was tagged as the losing pitcher, and his six earned runs in fewer than three innings set a tone from which Tampa Bay never recovered.

The Mets spread the production across the lineup. Juan Soto went 2-for-5 with a home run and an RBI, reminding Tampa Bay exactly why he is one of the most dangerous hitters in the sport. Nick Morabito was 2-for-2 with three RBI, and Brett Baty drove in three runs on one hit in two at-bats. Carson Benge and Bo Bichette each added two-hit performances to keep pressure on Tampa Bay's pitching staff throughout the night.

Rays Bullpen Shoulders a Heavy Load Without Relief

With Jax unable to complete three innings, Tampa Bay was forced to piece together the remainder of the game through four additional relievers. Steven Matz provided the only clean stretch, throwing 2.1 scoreless innings without allowing a hit while striking out one. It was a rare bright spot in an otherwise difficult night for the pitching staff.

Cam Booser allowed two earned runs on three hits in 1.1 innings, and Manuel Rodríguez struck out three batters in 1.2 innings but was touched for two more earned runs on three hits. Bryan Baker tossed a clean final inning to close out the game. In total, Rays pitchers allowed 10 earned runs on 14 hits across nine innings.

For New York, Dedniel Núñez earned the win after throwing 1.1 scoreless innings. Justin Hagenman started and went three innings, allowing one earned run, before a parade of relievers shut Tampa Bay down the rest of the way.

Palacios Provides a Bright Spot in the Rays Lineup

Tampa Bay's offense was limited. Richie Palacios gave the home crowd something to cheer with a two-run home run, going 1-for-4 on the night. Chandler Simpson was the only other Rays hitter to reach multiple times, collecting two hits in four at-bats. Beyond those two, Tampa Bay's lineup could not string together the kind of sustained production needed to compete with New York's ten-run output.

Key Performances

New York Mets

  • Juan Soto: 2-for-5, 1 HR, 1 RBI
  • Nick Morabito: 2-for-2, 3 RBI
  • Brett Baty: 1-for-2, 3 RBI
  • Bo Bichette: 2-for-4
  • Carson Benge: 2-for-4

Tampa Bay Rays

  • Richie Palacios: 1-for-4, 1 HR, 2 RBI
  • Chandler Simpson: 2-for-4

Turning Point: Jax Exits in the Third, Mets Lead Balloons

The game's decisive moment came during and immediately after Jax's outing. Allowing seven hits and six earned runs in 2.2 innings, he was unable to keep Tampa Bay within striking distance. Once the Mets pushed their lead beyond five runs, the margin was simply too large for the Rays offense — which managed just four total runs — to overcome. The relief corps kept the game from getting worse in the middle frames, but the early damage had already decided the outcome.

What's Next for the Rays

Tampa Bay will look to regroup quickly. The Rays need a bounce-back starting pitching performance in their next game — and frankly, the coaching staff will have hard questions to answer about how Jax's outing unraveled so fast. How the rotation is deployed going forward and whether the bullpen can be managed more efficiently will be worth watching.