Mets Bullpen Implodes, Blows 6-0 Lead as Bucs Party

 PIRATES 9 - METS 7 

Who knew that the kryptonite of the 2021 Mets would be the worst team in the National League. The WORST TEAM!! 

The Mets held a 6-0 lead on the Pittsburgh Pirates Saturday, and looked well on their way to notching an important victory that would maintain their three game lead in the NL East. Instead the bullpen imploded, specifically the combination of Seth Lugo and Edwin Diaz, and the Mets lost 9-7. 

Lugo didn't have it at all, and it was a question as to why manager Luis Rojas waited so long before removing him, especially if he was planning to bring in Aaron Loup to finish the inning as he would have to later. 

Lugo gave up five runs in 2/3 of inning pitched in the eighth inning, highlighted by Wilmer Difo's grand slam homer that widdled the Mets lead down to 6-5. 

Once Lugo gave up the three-run bomb, you could feel the air come out of the Mets sails. The Pirates meanwhile had renewed life, and all they had to do was stage one more comeback against Edwin Diaz, the same Edwin Diaz they tagged for multiple runs last Sunday. 

And low and behold we sat in horror in the ninth inning as Diaz displayed no command, hitting the first batter he faced, and walking the next. Later he gave up an infield single to John Nogowski that was really the fault of Jonthan Villar who forgot where the runners were. Suddenly bases loaded and one out. 

 

Somehow Diaz found a way to strikeout Gregory Polanco looking for the second out on a 3-2 pitch that hit the corner, but he wouldn't be so lucky with catcher Jacob Stallings. Stalling took the first pitch he saw from Diaz, lifted it deep to left field and over the wall for a game winning grand salami. 

6-0 turned into a 9-7 defeat. And the Mets suddenly with two of their most important players on the IL, lost a game they couldn't afford to lose in brutal fashion. The defeat effectively erased what was a triumphant return from the IL by JD Davis, who went 3-for-4 with a pair of homers for the Mets. Had the Mets won, Davis would have been the story. Now the focus turns to a ravaged bullpen that can't get anyone out. 

Think the Mets need to make a deal for some pitching in the next two weeks? You betcha.