Mets salvage split at 1:28 a.m., win as pen comes through
ATLANTA — Of all the possibilities to stabilize the Mets’ hemorrhaging bullpen, Hansel Robles was among the least likely Monday night.
But the erratic reliever, just back from the disabled list, followed a short and ineffective outing from rookie P.J. Conlon with his best performance of the season, allowing the Mets an opportunity to rally and save face after a brutal start to this split doubleheader.
Robles’ three shutout innings kept it close until the Mets erupted for five runs in the sixth and seventh to beat the Braves 8-5 in the nightcap at SunTrust Park. In the opener, Seth Lugo allowed a walk-off tworun homer to Charlie Culberson in the ninth — after initially blowing the save in the eighth — in a 4-3 loss.
The Mets (26-25) snapped a four-game losing streak with the victory in the nightcap, which was delayed at the start by rain for 2 hours, 57 minutes. With rain also in Tuesday’s forecast, MLB pushed the Braves to get in both games of the doubleheader, according to sources, accounting for the 1:28 a.m. conclusion to the nightcap.
Amed Rosario drove in three runs with two singles as part of the Mets’ rebound from a 4-3 deficit in the second game. Kevin Plawecki, in his return form the DL, delivered three singles and an RBI in the nightcap.
The lefty Conlon, in his second major league start, allowed four earned runs on eight hits over two-plus innings before Robles entered and got the Mets through the fifth without further damage. Jeurys Familia, who remained in the bullpen in Game 1 because manager Mickey Callaway wanted Lugo for a two-inning save, sealed the nightcap. The right-hander fired two scoreless innings for his 14th save in 18 chances.
Lugo had pitched a careerhigh 17 straight scoreless in- nings before allowing a run in the eighth of Game 1 that tied it 2-2 and ensured a no-decision for Jacob deGrom after another superb performance. In the ninth — after Devin Mesoraco had homered to give the Mets a 3-2 lead — Lugo walked Johan Camargo leading off the inning before Culberson homered with one out.
DeGrom allowed one earned run on five hits with eight strikeouts and three walks, departing after 115 pitches. It was the second straight start in which deGrom pitched brilliantly, but the Mets lost after squandering a late-inning lead. “It’s frustrating,” Lugo said. “[DeGrom] is doing what he always does and we have to be better than that, those are the games we have to win.”
On Sunday, the Mets lost to the Brewers after Callaway inserted struggling lefty Jerry Blevins in the seventh inning instead of sticking with dependable Robert Gsellman. And on Friday, the manager picked erratic AJ Ramos to pitch in the 10th inning over Familia and watched the right-hander walk in the winning run.
Callaway said the plan all along Monday was to use Lugo for a two-inning save if deGrom got through seven. If deGrom went shorter, Callaway’s plan was to cobble together outs, use Familia to close and then let Lugo start the nightcap of the doubleheader for two innings.
“We had one of our best relievers in the game and we just lost it,” Callaway said.
Luis Guillorme’s RBI double in the fourth gave the Mets a 2-0 lead against lefty Max Fried. Mesoraco singled and scored on Guillorme’s line drive to left field, on which Preston Tucker started in before retreating too late.
The Mets got a run in the first inning without a hit, when Mesoraco drew a twoout walk with the bases loaded. But the Mets also left the bases loaded in the inning.