Mets new-look bullpen falters late in crushing loss to Angel

ANAHEIM, Calif. The Mets revamped bullpen hiccupped loudly for the first time on Saturday. Huascar Brazoban, a reliever just ahead of the trade deadline, was entrusted a seventh-inning lead against the Angels and started easily enough with two strikeouts. But the fireballing right-hander never got the third out, and this night at Disneyland became a car wreck on the I-5 Freeway for the Mets. Brazoban surrendered a three-run homer to Zach Neto, and the Mets never recovered in a 5-4 lo s at Angel Stadium. The lo s was the Mets second in three games. Huascar Brazoban faltered in the seventh inning in the Mets lo s on Saturday. Getty Images J.D. Martinezs grand slam in the seventh that gave the Mets their only runs should have provided the knockout punch, but the Angels rallied against Brazoban in the bottom of the inning. Explore More Brazoban struck out Jo Adell and Matt Thai s to begin the frame, but then it got me sy: Michael Stefanic singled and Nolan Schanuel walked before Netos three-run blast on a cutter the eighth pitch of the at-bat put the Angels back in front at 5-4. I felt like I pitched well, but I left that pitch up in the zone, Brazoban said through an interpreter. That was the pitch that ended up costing us the game. New York Mets relief pitcher Huascar Brazoban walks off the field after being replaced in the seventh inning. AP The right-hander is one of three relievers on the major league roster the Mets traded for in July. The Mets also in an attempt to bolster a unit that has suffered from injuries and underperformance. Jordyn Adams Jersey [Brazoban] has gotten big outs before and hes got a big arm, manager Carlos Mendoza said. We brought him in here to be in those situations. The Mets had their chance to at least tie in the eighth following Mark Vientos leadoff double. But Luis Torrens, Jeff McNeil and Tyrone Taylor went meekly against the Angels bullpen. Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Ben Joyce reacts after striking out New York Mets designated hitter J.D. Martinez for the final out of a baseball game, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. AP Ben Joyce, who recorded the final out in the eighth for the Angels, worked a perfect ninth for the save. Joyce struck out Martinez on a 104.7 mph fastball to end the game. It was the fastest strikeout pitch in the pitch-tracking era that began in 2008, according to Sarah Langs. I dont think I have ever seen a fastball like that, Martinez said. Its the fastest fastball I have ever faced. He threw it and I laughed after he struck me out. I was kind of smiling and was like, Whoa. I had to look up at the radar. David Peterson was sharp for the Mets, allowing two earned runs on six hits with one walk and four strikeouts over six innings. It was a rebound performance from the lefty, who allowed four earned runs over five innings in a lo s to the Braves last Sunday. Peterson walked the second batter he faced in the game, Neto, and it cost him. Zach Netos three-run homer was the deciding factor for the Angels. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con With two outs Kevin Pillar delivered an RBI single that produced the games first run. Pillar, who played for the Mets in 2021, went full extension in the top of the inning to rob Francisco Lindor of an extra-base hit leading off the game. Delivering insights on all things Amazins Sign up for Inside the Mets by Mike Puma, exclusively on Sports+ Thank you By clicking above you agree to the and . Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! Pillar belly-flopped on the warning track in left-center with the ball in his glove for the defensive gem. Lindor had his own defensive beauty in the second when he charged to field Matt Thai s chopper behind the mound and threw off balance to Pete Alonso, who lunged to receive the ball and somehow kept his foot on first base. Brandon Nimmo doubled with two outs in the third and Martinez reached on a catchers interference before Jose Soriano struck out Alonso to end the threat. David Peterson delivered a strong start for the Mets. AP McNeil tried to extend a single into a double leading off the fifth and got thrown out by Pillar. The next batter, Taylor, hit a shot to left-center that the defensively sharp Pillar raced to snag. Netos RBI single in the fifth put the Mets in a 2-0 hole. Thai s hit a broken-bat grounder past third base for a leadoff double before Neto delivered a solid single to right with two outs. The Mets were unable to come up with a win on Saturday night in Anaheim. AP During the at-bat Peterson received a visit, but without much discu sion was allowed to continue. Torrens faced a big at-bat in the sixth, but was retired on a weak grounder after Alonso had singled in the inning and Vientos drew a two-out walk. Torrens was the final batter faced by Soriano, who allowed only five hits with six strikeouts and two walks over his six scorele s innings. New York Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil (1) is tagged out at second after stretching a single by Los Angeles Angels second baseman Michael Stefanic (38) during the fifth inning at Angel Stadium. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con The Mets loaded the bases in the seventh on walks to Jeff McNeil and Nimmo with a Lindor single sandwiched in-between. Martinez worked ahead in the count to 2-0 before jumping on a sinker from Hunter Strickland and clearing the center field fence to give the Mets a 4-2 lead. The grand slam was Martinezs second in eight days he blasted one against the Braves on July 26 at Citi Field and the 10th of his career. J.D. Martinez crushed another grand slam for Mets. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con Any time we get the lead late in the game, the bullpen has been good at the back end, and we definitely think we are going to hold off, Martinez said. Jack Lopez Jersey