MLB

Edwin Diaz’s Phillies nightmare continues as Mets bullpen implodes

Their bullpen got involved Friday and yada, yada, yada, the Mets lost.

Edwin Diaz turned Seinfeld Night at Citi Field into another dark comedy in which a team about nothing falls deeper into the abyss.

Boos rained upon Diaz after he surrendered a go-ahead RBI single in the ninth to Jay Bruce, and those jeers grew louder as the Phillies were scoring five runs in the inning in a 7-2 Mets loss.

“That’s what they can do, they buy the tickets to the games,” Diaz said, referring to the boos on a night he retired only one batter and was charged for four earned runs. “When I have good games they will cheer and when I have bad games they boo, and that is just what they do.”

The Mets matched a season’s low-point by falling 10 games below .500, wasting a strong start from Jacob deGrom on a night the offense couldn’t generate much against Vince Velasquez and the Phillies bullpen.

In his previous appearance against the Phillies, eight days earlier, Diaz surrendered five runs in the ninth inning for the blown save and loss. Diaz’s ERA after Friday’s meltdown ballooned to 5.67.

Jerry Seinfeld
Jerry Seinfeld throws out the first pitchPaul J. Bereswill

“I think lately, this last stretch, I haven’t been able to find those three, four. five games in a row where I can put up zeroes, where in the beginning of the season I could,” Diaz said. “But lately I haven’t been getting it done.”

In a 2-2 game, J.T. Realmuto doubled leading off the ninth against Diaz and Bruce’s groundball RBI single untied it. Sean Rodriguez’s RBI single, following a walk to Cesar Hernandez, provided insurance for the Phillies before Jean Segura smoked a two-out double against Jeurys Familia — both runs were charged to Diaz — extending that lead to 6-2. Bryce Harper completed the carnage with an RBI double, charged to Familia.

The veteran Bruce was part of the offseason trade to the Mariners that brought Diaz and Robinson Cano to the Mets. Most notably, the Mets surrendered stud prospect Jarred Kelenic in the deal.

Diaz was an All-Star closer last season, pitching to a 1.96 ERA and recording 57 saves, leaving the Mets wondering the whereabouts of that pitcher.

“It’s hard to tell what happens with guys from year to year,” manager Mickey Callaway said. “Identifying that can be a challenge sometimes, but you can’t give up.”

Callaway said he could consider switching Diaz’s role, but the Mets also aren’t overflowing with option at closer, as Familia (7.76 ERA) continues his freefall. Familia recorded only one out in the ninth Friday and was yanked. Luis Avilan finally completed the inning.

DeGrom allowed two earned runs on three hits with 10 strikeouts and three walks over seven innings to receive the no-decision. The right-hander rolled into the seventh with a 2-1 lead, but after walking Rhys Hoskins to lead off the inning, trouble ensued.

Realmuto’s double to the right-field fence put runners on second and third with nobody out before deGrom retired Bruce without a run scoring. But Hernandez’s squib up the third-base line allowed Hoskins to sneak home, tying the score. The Mets wanted the play reviewed, but didn’t have a challenge remaining.

Jacob deGrom
Jacob deGromBill Kostroun

“That was close there, and I had a good feeling he was out, but we were out of challenges,” deGrom said.

Pete Alonso’s second big hit of the night, an RBI double, gave the Mets a 2-1 lead in the fifth. Jeff McNeil delivered a two-out single before Alonso’s shot into the right-center gap knocked in the run.

Alonso’s 29th homer of the season, a blast leading off the fourth, tied it 1-1. With it, Alonso moved within four of Mark McGwire’s rookie record for homers before the All-Star break, set in 1987.

Scott Kingery homered on deGrom’s first pitch of the game. DeGrom didn’t allow another hit until Realmuto’s double in the seventh. Seth Lugo pitched a scoreless eighth before the ninth inning madness.

“Everybody in here has a job to do and everybody is giving 100 percent,” deGrom said. “These guys are out there trying and it’s not easy.”