It was a night New York Mets third baseman Brett Baty will want to forget, as his struggles compounded in a frustrating loss to the Chicago Cubs. Baty's difficult evening encapsulated the Mets' current woes, with defensive miscues and a prolonged offensive slump playing a central role in the team's ninth straight defeat.

The trouble began in the fourth inning. With the Mets trailing by three, a potential inning-ending double play ball found Baty, who booted it to load the bases. While officially scored a hit, Baty was unequivocal after the game: "I’ve gotta make both of them, simple as that... I don’t care that the first one is a hit, the play should be made." The error proved costly, leading to an unearned run that extended Chicago's lead.

This defensive lapse adds to what has been a challenging transition for Baty. After showcasing strong defense at second and third base last season, he's faced growing pains adapting to increased responsibilities. Unfortunately, his troubles aren't confined to the field. At the plate, Baty's 0-for-2 performance extended a team-worst hitless streak to 20 consecutive at-bats, dropping his season average to a meager .197.

Facing the music postgame, Baty didn't mince words, bluntly labeling his own performance "terrible." He emphasized the need to reset, stating, "I need to get back to my approach... and play defense better than I did today." For the Mets to break their debilitating losing streak, they'll need key players like Baty to rediscover their form quickly. In baseball, as in any sport, confidence is everything, and right now, the young infielder is searching for his.