The New York Mets' painful slide has officially reached double digits. A three-run, pinch-hit homer from Carson Kelly in the sixth inning sealed a 4-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs, extending the Mets' losing streak to a demoralizing ten games.

For a while, it looked like the Mets might finally snap their skid. Starter Jameson Taillon shook off a rocky second inning—where he surrendered a towering solo shot to Mark Vientos—to deliver a solid quality start, keeping the game tight. Opposite him, Freddy Peralta was equally effective for the Cubs, matching zeroes after giving up a game-tying homer to Ian Happ.

The turning point came in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs and two on, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza went to his bullpen, calling on lefty Brooks Raley to face pinch-hitter Carson Kelly. The move backfired instantly, as Kelly launched Raley's first pitch into the seats for a decisive three-run blast.

The Mets showed brief signs of life in the eighth, loading the bases with one out against reliever Ben Brown. But a strikeout and a groundout snuffed out the rally, encapsulating the team's recent struggles to deliver in clutch moments. While the offense managed 14 hits yesterday and seven today, the results remain the same: another loss in the column.

For a franchise and a fanbase with postseason aspirations, a ten-game losing streak in the heart of the season is a brutal test of resilience. The search for answers—and a win—continues.