Gut-Wrencher in D.C. Steepens Mets' Climb
Wasting wins down the stretch (against bad teams, no less) isn't gonna get the job done...
Is it too late to rename them the Washington Buzzkills?
After winning their previous eight-of-nine and coming within three outs of pulling within three games of the NL East-leading Braves, the Mets reaped what they sowed on Monday, coughing up a late lead and heading to Florida on the wheels of a 4-3 loss to the Nats.
Edwin Díaz, owner of a 1.13 ERA over 15 outings from July 23 through September 2, blew his second consecutive save opportunity. Walking two of the first three batters he faced with a one-run cushion is never a good strategy and he paid for his transgressions.
Andrew Stevenson notched his second ninth-inning, game-tying hit of the series with an RBI single, and Carter Kieboom — finally coming into his own after a bitter first cup of coffee in the majors — singled up the middle on a ball that Francisco Lindor atypically booted, allowing the winning run to cross. Gut punch.
As has been a general theme of this strange, strange season, the Mets had their chances and simply let them skip on by. Putting 14 runners on and leaving eight on base with a vulgar 1-for-10 line with men in scoring position will have these types of effects.
The Mets’ offense came into the day as one of the hottest in baseball and remained as such, entering Tuesday with a .307/.357/.519 team batting line over six games in September (134 wRC+, 1.9 fWAR; third and second in MLB, respectively).
Just gotta finish the job, which is something they’ve had a very tough time with this season. New York’s .236/.316/.397 line with RISP this season tells every bit of that story.
Right-hander Trevor Williams worked around 10 base hits and two bases-on-balls to escape with just two earned runs over five innings pitched. Since coming over from the Cubs with Javier Báez in July, the 29-year-old’s pitched to a 1.50 ERA (1.34 WHIP) over 18 innings of work.
Under contract for 2022 (last arbitration-eligible season), it seems Williams may have very well earned himself a role with next year’s Metsies. Something to keep an eye on.
The Mets’ bullpen (3.45 ERA since August 15 is sixth in MLB) held up their end with Jeurys Familia, Brad Hand, and Seth Lugo turning in scoreless frames before Díaz let things slip away.
Mets manager Luis Rojas had no qualms about Díaz’s usage — past, present, and future — after the game.
“The walks have killed [Díaz], I think,” Rojas said. “He walked [Ryan Zimmerman] a couple of days ago and then the two walks today, once again.”
Díaz didn’t shy away from accountability either, taking full responsibility for his recent errant spell.
“[Monday] I didn’t command my pitches the way I wanted to,” he said, also noting his costly slider location to Stevenson. “My fastball was running side-to-side a little bit. When it’s running side-to-side, I miss outside.”
Díaz also spoke a bit about the team’s mentality following Monday’s loss, as well as where these guys are at heading down the home stretch with contention at arm’s reach.
“We will win, we will lose. It’s part of the game. We want to win every time but that can’t happen,” Díaz said. “We had a great series here. We’re now going to Miami to keep winning games and still fighting for a playoff spot.”
Rojas shared similar sentiments regarding Monday’s heart-wrencher and what’s ahead for his ballclub.
“[Monday] was a tough loss but winning three out of five. You still gotta feel good about it just because we’re closing the gap,” Rojas said. “The most important thing is tomorrow’s game but we’re closing the gap and we have a lot of games left […] Right now we’re all trying to overcome this tough one — it was a tough one today — and get on a plane and be ready to play Miami for three.“
Four games back with 24 to play is both terrifying and encouraging. Also kinda fun if you’re into that sort of fandom.
The ground the Mets made up over the past 10 days has been rejuvenating, no doubt. With three more in Miami before a string of postseason contenders begin reappearing on the schedule (beginning with the Yankees this weekend), a few more victories this week would suit everyone well.
Onward and wayyyyy upward. LFGM.
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