LOS ANGELES — So close to a sweep — or at least a series victory — but instead frustration reigned for the Mets on Thursday.

Brett Baty bounced a throw to the plate, the same way Brandon Nimmo two nights earlier misplayed a ball in left field. The Mets, on a day they led most of the way against the Dodgers, squandered an eighth-inning lead in a 6-5 loss at Chavez Ravine that ended this four-game tilt in a split.

It was the third game in the series decided by one run. The other two were decided in the 10th inning.

After the Dodgers, facing Reed Garrett, had pulled to within 5-4 in the eighth, Andy Pages hit a grounder to Baty with Will Smith on third.

Smith at first hesitated but broke for the plate and Baty’s throw short-hopped Francisco Alvarez.

Garrett was backing up and perhaps had a shot at the out. The only problem was Alvarez blocked Garrett at the plate as Smith scored the tying run.

Baty, noting that Smith had taken a poor jump on the grounder, began running at him instead of throwing immediately to the plate.

“I was pump-faking and I thought he was going to come back and he ended up going the other way,” Baty said. “It’s just a very dumb mistake and it can’t happen in that situation. I have got to give it up early and get him back running toward third base. Terrible play.”

Garrett walked Mookie Betts to begin the inning and Smith’s double pulled the Dodgers within 5-4.

Michael Conforto, who is batting only .167, delivered the final dagger with an RBI single that gave the Dodgers a 6-5 lead.

It was a rare letdown by Garrett, who hadn’t allowed an earned run in his previous nine appearances and brought a 0.68 ERA into the game.

Brett Baty fields a ground ball before making an errant throw that let the tying run score in the Mets’ 6-5 loss to the Dodgers on June 5, 2025. Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images

But Garrett also would have escaped with the lead had the Mets turned Pages’ grounder into the inning’s final out.

“I didn’t execute my best, but I executed pretty decently,” Garrett said.

On Tuesday, Nimmo got turned around on Freddie Freeman’s fly to left field in the 10th inning and watched the ball hit the base of the fence with the winning run scoring.

“Those two games that we lost could have gone either way,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “They did some good things, too, and they made some mistakes. That’s a good team and when you give them extra bases or extra outs they are going to make you pay. I am not going to make too much of those two losses. That’s a good team.”

Reed Garrett reacts dejectedly after giving up a run after Brett Baty’s throwing error during the eighth inning of the Mets’ loss to the Dodgers. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Pete Alonso’s third homer in two games gave the Mets a 1-0 lead in the second inning against Landon Knack.

Nimmo and Starling Marte hit consecutive homers to begin the second inning, extending the Mets’ lead to 3-0. Nimmo’s homer was his 10th this season and Marte’s his fourth.

But the Mets weren’t finished in the inning. After Alonso was plunked and Jeff McNeil walked, Tyrone Taylor’s single loaded the bases. Baty’s sacrifice fly extended the lead to 4-0.

Tanner Scott and catcher Will Smith celebrate after the Dodgers’ win over the Mets. Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images

The Dodgers jumped on David Peterson for three runs in the bottom of the inning.

After Miguel Rojas walked and Shohei Ohtani singled, Mookie Betts stroked an RBI double.

Smith’s ensuing single and Teoscar Hernández’s RBI fielder’s choice sliced the Mets’ lead to 4-3.

Mookie Betts celebrates after hitting an RBI double scoring Miguel Rojas in the third inning of the Mets’ loss to the Dodgers. Getty Images

Starling Marte celebrates with Pete Alonso after hitting a home run during the Mets’ loss to the Dodgers. Getty Images

Peterson induced double-play grounders in the fourth and sixth after surrendering a leadoff single in each inning. In the fifth, he surrendered singles to Ohtani and Betts before retiring Smith and Hernández to escape.

After Juan Soto was intentionally walked in the eighth, Alonso delivered an RBI single that gave the Mets a 5-3 lead.

The RBI was Alonso’s 55th of the season, moving him ahead of Rafael Devers for the major league lead.

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“We ended up splitting the series here, but it felt like we gave that one away,” Mendoza said. “We were sloppy today, we didn’t play well, and it cost us.”