Jose Quintana's Citi Field return didn't go as planned in loss to Mets

Pitching efficiently and walking no batters, Quintana entered the sixth inning with only 70 pitches. After striking out the No. 9 hitter Tyrone Taylor to open the frame, Quintana faced the top of the Mets lineup for the third time. A pair of softly hit ground-ball singles from Starling Marte and Francisco Lindor set up runners on the corners, both hits just 79 mph off the bat. 

Following a mound visit after Lindor’s infield single, Quintana remained on the hill to face Juan Soto. On a 2-2 pitch, Soto rolled a third consecutive ground-ball single, driving in the go-ahead run and ending Quintana’s night.

Quintana was tagged for three earned runs over 5 1/3 innings after Nick Mears, who entered in relief, allowed one of the inherited runners to score, extending the Mets’ lead to 3-1.

After giving up three or more runs just once over his first eight starts, Quintana has now done so in three of his last four outings.