Brett Baty owns ‘terrible’ play on both sides of ball following Mets' loss to Cubs

“We’ve improved defensively,” David Stearns said pregame Friday.

“We have not been perfect, but overall, I can’t point at our defense and say that our defense has been a problem.”

Just a few hours later, the Mets’ defense was a problem.

With Huascar Brazoban attempting to keep the Cubs at bay in a three-run game in the bottom of the fourth, Brett Baty booted a potential double-play ball to load the bases.

While it was ruled a hit, leaving the bat at 97 mph, it's a play he feels he should've made.

And the miscue ended up costing the Mets two batters later, as Brazoban got the next man to lineout then appeared to escape the jam, but Baty botched another should be routine grounder off his glove to prolong the inning.

A strikeout ended the threat, but Chicago stretched the lead to four with some help from the miscues.

“I’ve gotta make both of them, simple as that,” Baty said postgame. “I feel like I make those plays 10 times out of 10, I gotta make them -- I don’t care that the first one is a hit, the play should be made.”

New York, of course, went on to be blown out by Chicago as they suffered their ninth consecutive loss.

This continues what’s been a tough stretch for Baty on both sides of the ball.

The 26-year-old was tremendous at second and third last season, but with Marcus Semien and Bo Bichette in town, he's struggled to find his footing in his transition to first and right field.

He also hasn't been able to carryover his breakout at the plate thus far, as his 0-for-2 on the afternoon pushed his team-worst streak to 20 consecutive hitless at-bats.

Baty is now hitting .197 on the season, and "terrible" is how he described his play.

“I need to get back to my approach,” he said. “Swing at strikes, hitting the ball hard all over, and play defense better than I did today because I was terrible -- it’s a long season but it sucks right now for sure, just gotta keep going.”