SAN FRANCISCO – The New York Mets have a new buzzword for the 2026 season, and it’s not one any fan wants to hear: “victory prevention.” On a chilly Thursday night at Oracle Park, the Mets managed to do everything wrong – and nothing right – en route to a demoralizing 7-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants. The defeat marks the club’s third straight loss, and it’s starting to feel like a full-blown crisis. David Peterson, who looked so sharp in his season debut, was absolutely shelled. The offense? MIA. The defense? Sloppy. And the Mets’ record now sits at a mediocre 4-5, with a fan base that’s already reaching for the panic button. Let’s start with Peterson. The left-hander entered the game with confidence after shutting out Pittsburgh over 5.1 innings on March 28. But the Giants had other plans. Peterson lasted just 4.1 innings, surrendering nine hits and six runs (five earned). He walked two and struck out five – but the damage was done early and often. The Mets actually gave him a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, thanks to a Bo Bichette RBI double (his first extra-base hit as a Met). But Peterson gave it right back in the bottom half, allowing three runs on a combination of singles, a walk, and his own throwing error. Yes, Peterson’s error in the first inning opened the floodgates. He then coughed up two more runs in the third and was charged with an additional run after his exit in the fifth. “I just didn’t have it,” Peterson admitted afterward. “My command was off, and they made me pay.” But Peterson wasn’t the only problem. The Mets’ offense, which has been sputtering for weeks, continued its inexplicable collapse. New York managed only two runs on the night – the other coming on a solo home run from Mark Vientos, his first of the season. That’s it. The team went 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position, and over their last four games, they are a mind-boggling 1-for-32 with RISP. Overall, the Mets are hitting .155 (11-for-71) with runners in scoring position, ranking 29th in all of Major League Baseball – ahead of only the Cincinnati Reds (.152). They also lead the majors with 59 stranded runners. That’s not just bad luck; that’s a systemic failure to deliver in clutch moments. “I think people watch everything, every day, all season long,” said Bo Bichette, who had the lone RBI double. “Some years you start well, others not. It’s just part of it.” When asked if the team is simply experiencing bad luck, Bichette pushed back. “Maybe, but that’s not something to resort to. You’ve always got to look to do better, be better. So that’s what we’re going to do.” Manager Carlos Mendoza tried to put a positive spin on things, but his frustration was evident. “We’re not executing. It’s that simple. We’re not getting the big hit, and we’re not getting enough quality starts. That’s a bad combination.” The Giants, meanwhile, looked like a team ready to contend. They pounded out 12 hits, with six different players driving in runs. San Francisco improved to 6-3 on the season, while the Mets fell to 4-5. The loss also extended the Mets’ losing streak to three games – their longest of the young season. The bullpen, which had been a strength, allowed an additional run in the eighth inning, turning a 6-2 deficit into 7-2. “We’ve got to turn this around fast,” said veteran reliever Adam Ottavino. “The season doesn’t wait for anyone.” Looking ahead, the Mets will try to salvage the series with Nolan McLean on the mound Friday. The hard-throwing rookie was electric in spring training, but now he faces a Giants lineup that smells blood. If McLean falters, the Mets could be looking at a four-game sweep. And with the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies lurking in the NL East, New York cannot afford to dig an early hole. “We’ve got the talent,” Vientos said. “We just need to relax and play our game.” Easier said than done when everything seems to be going wrong. For Mets fans, Thursday night was a painful reminder that baseball is a cruel sport – and that victory prevention is no way to build a contender.