If yesterday’s ninth inning at-bat was indeed Carlos Beltran’s last as a Met at Citi Field, it didn’t go exactly as he would have scripted it.
Beltran popped up to shallow left, and one out later the Mets finished a lackluster 6-2 loss to the Cardinals that took just 2:07 as they head out on a 10-game road trip that will last until the trade deadline.
“Let’s hope I can come back,” Beltran said.
That doesn’t figure to happen while he’s in a Mets uniform, as teams continue to pursue the right fielder, who has proven to be healthy and productive. And the small crowd that remained in the stands yesterday seemed to recognize that fact, giving Beltran a somewhat underwhelming ovation as he approached the plate.
“I think Carlos deserved whatever response the fans gave him,” Mets manager Terry Collins said. “Because this guy has given seven years of his career here and a lot of great moments to watch.”
But Collins still hasn’t given up hope that Beltran will be around when they return Aug. 1.
“I’m going to put him in the lineup [tonight in Florida] and hopefully for a while,” Collins said.
Yesterday, though, the Mets didn’t look like a team that was poised for a playoff run, which is what it needed to be to keep Beltran.
Down 2-1 in the fifth, a pair of ugly throwing errors — one by Lucas Duda at first base and another by Angel Pagan in center — helped lead to three runs, and the Mets never recovered.
Starter Jon Niese, who also gave up a two-run homer to Albert Pujols in the first inning, didn’t do himself any favors in the fifth by walking Cardinals starter Jake Westbrook with one out.
Duda followed, after fielding a grounder by Nick Punto, by throwing a ball that ricocheted off Westbrook’s helmet as he tried to get the force at second. And on the next play, Pagan fielded a Jon Jay single and saw Jay range far off first. He fired to an empty first base, after mistaking Cardinals first base coach Dave McKay for Duda. The errant throw allowed a run to score.
“We cannot throw the ball around and win games,” Collins said. “It comes back to bite us a lot. [This] was another example.”
Even with the return of David Wright expected tonight against the Marlins, that won’t change, since just about everyone has resigned himself or herself to the fact that Beltran is a goner.
“Most of the time at the deadline, you never really know what’s going to happen,” Jason Bay said. “I think in this case, everybody has an inclination it’s not a matter of if, but when. You never know, but there are an overwhelming set of factors for him not to stay here.”
Which is why contenders like the Red Sox, Braves, Phillies and Giants — among others — continue to be in hot pursuit of Beltran. Beltran said again after yesterday’s game that he has not heard from the Mets or agent Scott Boras about waiving his no-trade clause.
“I’m not thinking about that,” Beltran said. “I’m going to Miami focused on playing games. … I’m proud I’ve been able to help my team in any way I can. I’m proud of the guys here who have battled with a lot of injuries.”
But it hasn’t been enough to keep pace with other top teams, thanks in part to injuries to Jose Reyes, Wright and Ike Davis — something Collins lamented yesterday.
“It’s somewhat disappointing we never got to see the lineup we planned on having, because it was pretty good,” Collins said.
dan.martin@nypost.com