Mets’ bullpen’s meltdown costs 6-run advantage over Braves
The Mets seemed to be running away with the game. And then they did the most Mets thing they could do. They blew a six-run lead that culminated with a total meltdown in the eighth inning, when the bullpen blew a four-run lead.
The Mets were defeated by the Braves 11-10 on Friday night at Truist Park in Atlanta in spectacular fashion. Then the bullpen unraveled, especially Dellin Betances and Seth Lugo, who got lit up by two ex-Mets, Adeiny Hechavarria and Travis d’Arnaud, in the eighth. Hechavarria singled off Betances and scored after Betances gave up a walk and a single. D’Arnaud later doubled off Lugo, which brought in three runs, putting the Braves ahead for good.
“We’re out there focused and going over hitters throughout the game,” Lugo said after the game over a video teleconference. “I think things will turn around because we’re not letting [bad pitches and losses] affect our morale out there. So, you know, I think we can bounce back fast.”
This is the second time in two seasons the Mets have dropped a six-run lead. The last time the Mets blew a six-run lead, they were not in the middle of a pandemic and were playing the Nationals in Washington. That was back in September and they had a six-run lead going into the ninth inning. They also lost that game 11-10 and became the first team to lose a game after having a six-run advantage going into the ninth or later.
“First off, it’s a tough loss you know, we’ve had a few tough losses already,” new Mets manager Louis Rojas said after the game over a video teleconference. “You don’t exactly get what you expect to get from those two guys.
“Pitchers are going to make mistakes... but from our standpoint we need to work and get back on track.”
The Mets have now dropped their third-straight contest in as many games. Unlike the previous nights, when the Mets’ bats also couldn’t get hot enough to provide run support for its pitchers, Friday night’s hitters all found their mid-summer groove.
Up until the fourth inning, the Mets bats looked as quiet and useless as their Thursday has been. J.D. Davis hit a two-run homer in the fourth, his second of the season. An inning later, Robinson Cano went deep against Braves starter Sean Newcomb to put the Mets in front 3-2.
Later in the inning, after the Mets loaded the bases, Newcomb was replaced by Jhoulys Chacin, who allowed the Mets five more runs, two of which came on a double by Yoenis Cespedes. The Mets led the Braves 8-2 until the bottom of the fifth. By the end of the sixth, the Mets had tacked on two more runs and the Braves four. The 10-6 lead was not enough to carry the Mets out of the game.
The Mets will play the Braves through two more games and then take their road trip to Washington for three games.
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