An eventful ninth inning Friday night provided the Colorado Rockies some encouragement in the midst of a trying season — and reminded the New York Mets of problems that remain even following their surge into the thick of the National League wild card race.
The visiting Rockies will look to build on a late rally and the Mets will aim to lock up another series win Saturday afternoon when the teams play the middle game of a three-game set.
Ryan Feltner (1-8, 5.29 ERA) is slated to start for the Rockies against fellow right-hander Christian Scott (0-2, 4.15 ERA).
Jose Iglesias and Harrison Bader each hit two homers on Friday for the Mets, who staved off the Rockies’ comeback to earn a 7-6 win.
Mets starter Sean Manaea exited after seven innings with a 7-3 lead, but the Rockies immediately began chipping away against New York’s beleaguered bullpen. Charlie Blackmon led off the eighth with a homer against Jake Diekman, and later in the frame, Brenton Doyle hit a two-run, two-out shot off Phil Maton.
New York closer Edwin Diaz got the first two outs of the ninth but walked Sam Hilliard and Blackmon before striking out Ezequiel Tovar to record his 10th save.
The Rockies were trying to come back from a deficit of four runs or more for just the third time this season.
“We think we’re going to win every game regardless of who we’re playing or what’s going on,” Colorado manager Bud Black said. “Doesn’t matter if it’s the Mets or anybody else. But we know that if we put good at-bats together late, we can put some stress on some teams.”
Stress in the late innings is nothing new for the Mets, who have overcome a combustible bullpen to go 8-4 this month.
New York relievers have posted an 8.53 ERA in July with 18 walks in just 31 2/3 innings. The Mets’ bullpen has a 4.22 ERA overall this season.
Diaz needed just six pitches to record the first two outs Friday before issuing a four-pitch walk to Hilliard and walking Blackmon after getting ahead 0-2. Tovar also fell behind 0-2, but Diaz needed six more pitches to fan him.
“It happens,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “Diaz, they made him work. Got two quick outs, but then he kind of lost the zone there.”
New York general manager David Stearns has aggressively shuffled the bullpen in July, during which he has recalled Jose Butto, Eric Orze and Danny Young from Triple-A Syracuse and acquired Maton from the Tampa Bay Rays. Orze was recalled for a second time on Friday, when starting pitcher David Peterson was placed on the paternity list.
Feltner took a loss on Monday when he allowed two runs (one earned) over seven innings as the Rockies fell 6-0 to the Cincinnati Reds. He is 0-1 with a 7.88 ERA in two career starts against the Mets.
Scott remained winless in seven major league starts when he didn’t factor into the decision on Monday after giving up two runs and one hit over 5 2/3 innings in the Mets’ 8-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. The rookie has never opposed Colorado.
–Field Level Media