NEW YORK - The Red Sox' Spolier Express finally got derailed Sunday.
After taking the first two games of their interleague series with the first-place New York Mets, the Sox dropped a 5-4 decision in the finale.
The Red Sox threatened in the top of the ninth with singles from Rusney Castillo and Blake Swihart off closer Jeurys Familia. But Alejandro De Aza fanned, pinch-hitter Travis Shaw hit into a fielder's choice and Mookie Betts struck out.
The Sox had rallied twice - first from down 1-0 in the sixth to take a 2-1 lead and again after falling behind 4-2 to tie it at 4-4 in the seventh.
But the Boston bullpen yielded a run in the eighth when Robbie Ross Jr. issued a walk with one out, and after a fielder's choice and a stolen base, Heath Hembree allowed a run-scoring single to Michael Cuddyer, giving the Mets the go-ahead run.
The Sox had used a single from Blake Swihart, a pinch-hit double from Jackie Bradley Jr. and a bloop triple by Betts in the seventh to tie the score at 4.
David Ortiz cranked a vicious line drive off the facade of the second deck in right to put the Sox up 2-1 in the sixth. It was his 28th homer of the year and No. 494 of his career.
But Red Sox starter Wade Miley, who had limited the Mets to a single run over the first five innings, faded in the bottom of the inning and was tagged for three runs.
Jose Uribe delievered the big hit that inning, sending a booming double over the head of Betts in straightaway center field.
The Sox couldn't do much early against New York starter Noah Syndergaard, who shut them out for the first five innings before Ortiz caught up to a 97-mph fastball in the sixth with Xander Bogaerts (single) aboard.