Mets bullpen runs scoreless streak to 14 IP

Don’t blame the bullpen this time. Or any of the recent times, actually.

Once again, the Mets failed to produce the big — or timely — hit, leaving the bases loaded in the eighth inning of the team’s 4-3 loss to the Marlins on Friday night at Citi Field. It was the team’s muchmaligned bullpen that gave them that chance, though.

And it wasn’t their usual arms Seth Lugo or Justin Wilson.

It came from the back end of their bullpen. After starter Michael Wacha left following five innings and four earned runs, lefty Chasen Shreve tossed 2 ¹/3 innings of scoreless and hitless ball before sinkerball pitcher Jared Hughes finished off the eighth inning.

Edwin Diaz, who has followed up his calamitous 2019 season with a troubling start to the 2020 season, provided a scoreless ninth inning to keep the deficit at one.

Mets manager Luis Rojas has emphasized the importance of the first batter to the entire unit.

“It’s just attacking the zone,” Rojas said after the game. “That first batter is key. First guy you’re gonna face coming out of the bullpen, that’s key. You’re setting the tone. Everyone’s looking from the dugout, everyone wants to see how your command is, what you’re mixing. Off of that, they know what type of approach they’re going to bring. They know what you have. Everyone is prepared against each pitcher in the bullpen, knowing the history and the data that’s collected by all teams. But once they witness you out there, what you’re commanding, if you’re attacking on that first hitter, later in the game guys will go after those early pitches.

“It’s really good to set the tone with that first batter you face. I think that’s been key for the bullpen over the last few days.”

After a disastrous start to the season, with multiple games blown late, the bullpen has bounced back in emphatic fashion.

In their 3-1 win over the Nationals on Wednesday, Lugo provided two scoreless innings in relief after starter Rick Porcello made it through seven. One day prior, four different relievers combined to pitch five scoreless after starter Steven Matz lasted just three innings in a 5-3 loss. In the series finale in Atlanta on Monday, which the team won 7-2, three different relievers tossed a combined three scoreless in relief of starter Jacob deGrom.

In total, it’s been 14 straight scoreless innings for the Mets bullpen.

Who would’ve thought?

N.Y. Post: Charles Wenzelberg STEPPING UP: Edwin Diaz struck out two during his appearance in the ninth inning Friday, where the Mets bullpen kept the team in the game against the Marlins.