Mets Notes: Jorge Polanco’s ‘tough stretch’ at plate continues, Freddy Peralta trade

Mets interim manager Andy Green discussed a number of topics following Sunday’s shutout loss to the Marlins…

Jorge Polanco’s continued strugglesIt’s been a season to forget thus far for Polanco.

>The veteran infielder still hasn’t been able to get back into a groove at the plate since returning from a long-term absence due to wrist and Achilles injuries.

>Polanco went hitless again during Sunday’s series finale loss including a pair of strikeouts, one of which came in a significant point in the ballgame.

>The lefty stepped to the plate in a bases loaded and nobody out situation with the Mets still trailing by just one run in the bottom of the seventh.

>He fouled off two fastballs, then chased a slider down and out of the zone for strike three.

>Polanco is now 4-for-35 (.114) with just two RBI and one extra base-hit while striking out 18 times in 15 games since returning from the injured list.

>He’s also hitless in each of his last eight games, lowering his OPS to .381 for the season.

>“It’s fair to assume with as much time as he missed that he’s still working back for timing, and at the same getting to a pace where he feels comfortable and confident hitting,” Green said.

>“We’re excited to get him on the road just to change the environment, maybe get some early hitting in and get going, see if we can jumpstart him -- it’s definitely been a tough stretch.”

The Freddy Peralta tradeGreen also got into the tough but expected off the field news of the day, as the trade deadline sell-off continued with Peralta being traded to the Rays.

>The interim skipper didn’t have the chance to see Peralta after receiving word of the deal, but he knows how disappointed he is with how his time in New York went.

>“He came here to anchor a rotation and felt the weight of that,” Green said. “I know from talking to him certainly doesn’t feel it went the way he hoped it would, and we all feel that way.

>“Where we are today screams we’re all wishing we were in a different spot -- he gave us everything he had, stepped on the mound everyday and competed, I know he wanted better results.”

>Peralta pitched to a 4.99 ERA and 1.47 WHIP in 22 starts as a Met.