Robles still feeling hungover
Hansel Robles never got the memo: What happens in Vegas is supposed to stay in Vegas.
The hard-throwing right-hander was activated for Monday night’s game against the Cardinals at Citi Field after posting uneven results at Triple-A Las Vegas, and didn’t show any improvement. He gave up a rocket of a threerun homer to Tommy Pham, the first batter he faced, in the sixth inning of the Mets’ 6-3 loss to the Cardinals. And to compound matters, Robles pointed to the sky, like the long drive was a popup, as he had early in the season following homers before being demoted.
Robles pitched to a 5.79 ERA and allowed 27 hits in 23 ¹/3 innings in Las Vegas, but was coming off five consecutive outings without allowing a run. That didn’t translate.
Mets manager Terry Collins said he plans to use him in the “middle of the game,” but Robles, who now has a 6.45 ERA as a Met, will likely be in the mix for high-leverage spots considering how poorly relievers Neil Ramirez (7.34 ERA) and Fernando Salas (6.57 ERA) have pitched.
Robles was demoted May 23, after three straight nightmarish outings, giving up 12 earned runs over 2 2/3 innings.
“I think it [was] a bit of a difficult situation for me,” Robles said. “It was a little frustrating, knowing I was at this level, and having to go back down there, working through that frustration.”
Chasen Bradford was sent down to Triple-A to make room for Robles.
Second baseman Neil Walker (partially torn left hamstring) ran the bases on Monday for the first time since going on the disabled list June 15. He also took batting practice and fielded grounders. Collins is hopeful Walker can begin a rehabilitation assignment this weekend in the minor leagues.
“There were good signs,” Collins said. “He said the warmer it got, the better he felt. Obviously the big test will be — when he cools down — is to see where he is [on Tuesday].”
Lucas Duda pulled into a tie with Todd Hundley for seventh place on the Mets all-time home run list with his sixth-inning solo shot. The two both hit 124 homers as Mets. ... Infielder T.J. Rivera’s career-best 11-game hitting streak came to an end.