The Colorado Rockies found themselves on the wrong side of a pitcher's duel Monday, falling 4-2 to the New York Mets in a game that felt far more lopsided than the final score suggests.

Despite out-hitting the Mets 5-4, Colorado's bats went silent when it mattered most. The Rockies managed just one hit through the first six innings and went a frustrating 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position. By the time their offense finally stirred in the seventh, it was too little, too late.

Mickey Moniak provided the lone bright spot for Colorado, collecting a double and a triple while extending his impressive hitting streak to 17 games. But even his efforts were wasted, as he was left stranded on base both times.

The game belonged to Mets starter Tomoyuki Sugano, who was absolutely dominant through the first five innings. The right-hander needed just 40 pitches to breeze through the first four frames, aided by a strong wind blowing in from center field that kept balls in the park. His only blemish early on was a walk to Carson Benge in the third, quickly erased by a double play.

But baseball is a game of adjustments, and the bottom of the Mets lineup made them on their second look at Sugano. Leading off the sixth, Benge crushed a cutter 436 feet into the bullpen beyond center field, giving New York a 1-0 lead. Francisco Alvarez and Luis Torrens followed with back-to-back doubles, and suddenly the Mets were up 2-0.

Sugano (2-3, 3.41 ERA) departed after walking Juan Soto and recording just one more out. Reliever Jaden Hill nearly escaped the jam, striking out MJ Melendez for the second out, but Mark Vientos delivered the dagger with a two-run single that doubled the Mets' lead to 4-0.

The Rockies finally showed some life in the seventh, plating two runs, but it wasn't enough to overcome the early deficit. The loss extends Colorado's skid to four games, dropping them to 14-22, while the Mets (13-22) have now won three of their last four.

For Rockies fans, the story remains the same: strong pitching performances wasted by an offense that can't seem to find its rhythm when it counts. With the bats struggling to produce in clutch situations, Colorado will need to find answers quickly if they hope to turn their season around.