Mets’ offense falls flat in listless loss to Diamondbacks

PHOENIX — There are games the Mets have lost recently because they didn’t hit with runners on base.

On Tuesday, they didn’t hit. Period.

Limited to four singles against Zac Gallen and Arizona’s bullpen, the Mets lost 5-1 at Chase Field for their third loss in four games.

It was a rare slumber for a lineup that left runners on base all weekend in St. Louis before receiving two homers to win Monday’s game.

The Mets (23-14) had their one legitimate shot at Gallen in the third inning when Pete Alonso drew a bases-loaded walk, but Starling Marte — who is receiving increased playing time in the DH role with Jesse Winker on the injured list — struck out on three pitches to end the threat.

The series will be decided on Wednesday.

The Mets have lost their last two rubber games, against the D’backs in Queens and Cardinals.

David Peterson surrendered a season-high four earned runs on five hits and four walks over six innings.

The left-hander threw 104 pitches, his highest total this season.

It marked the third time in four games a Mets starting pitcher allowed at least four earned runs.

The Mets didn’t get their second hit against Gallen until the seventh inning, when Mark Vientos singled.

But Gallen completed his night’s work by getting Jeff McNeil to hit into an inning-ending double play.

An overturned call in the third inning led to the Mets’ first run.

A replay review showed that Tyrone Taylor beat the relay throw to first on a potential double-play grounder, extending the inning.

Gallen followed with three straight walks, to Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto and Alonso, forcing in a run.

But before the Mets could get too excited, Marte struck out.

Vientos’ late reaction on Randal Grichuk’s grounder in the fourth helped the D’backs score twice to go ahead 2-1.

Grichuk, leading off, hit a shot between Vientos’ legs that was ruled a double.

Peterson walked Eugenio Suarez and Francisco Alvarez’s passed ball moved the lead runner to third.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. brought in Arizona’s first run before Geraldo Perdomo’s RBI fielder’s choice scored another.

On Gurriel’s double, Brandon Nimmo fell as he chased the ball in left field.

Nimmo arose grabbing his left knee, but after an examination from the trainer, with manager Carlos Mendoza on the scene, he remained in the game.

Peterson escaped trouble in the fifth by retiring Suarez for the final out after allowing a leadoff double to Jose Herrera. Corbin Carroll’s infield single put runners on the corners.

Gurriel swatted a two-run homer in the sixth against Peterson, extending Arizona’s lead to 4-1.

Josh Naylor walked leading off before Gurriel jumped on a first-pitch fastball and cleared the left-field fence.

José Buttó walked Carroll leading off the seventh and Suarez singled — Taylor misplayed the ball for an error, allowing Carroll to reach third. Naylor’s sacrifice fly widened the Mets’ deficit to 5-1.

The run was unearned. Buttó left two runners stranded by retiring Perdomo for the final out.

Alvarez reached on an infield single against Kevin Ginkel in the eighth, but after Taylor struck out Lindor hit into an inning-ending double play.

Soto walked leading off the ninth and Marte singled with one out before Shelby Miller retired Nimmo and Vientos to conclude it.