For the Mets, the 2019 season has been filled with many gut punch losses. But perhaps none more so than Sunday night’s bout with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
With the season hanging by a thread and the Mets needing a win to remain three games out of a Wild Card spot, manager Mickey Callaway made the right moves, but just didn’t get the right results.
Zack Wheeler started the game for the Mets and twirled a gem, going seven innings and striking out nine, while holding the Dodgers to just one run.
For the eighth, Callaway turned to the ever stable Justin Wilson, who walked Jedd Gyorko, who promptly advanced to third on a balk and a wild pitch, respectively. Chris Taylor then doubled Gyorko home.
Wilson struck out two to hold off the Dodgers from scoring again, but Callaway then went to Seth Lugo to finish off the eighth, which he did. However, in the ninth, Lugo surrendered a run to give the Dodgers a 3-2 lead they wouldn’t look back from.
Despite the results, Callaway made the right decision to turn to Wilson and Lugo. Unfortunately, it just didn’t pan out. And unfortunately, it seems as though Wilson and Lugo are the only two guys that are somewhat reliable in high leverage situations out of the Mets’ pen.
“They’ve been so good and we’ve relied on them so much, it’s tough,” Callaway said about Wilson and Lugo. “They’ve been pitching great.”
For Lugo, he says the Mets will keep fighting. However, he can’t do it all by himself.
“We’ve had some tough times and good times this year,” Lugo said, according to George Willis of the New York Post. “We always bounce back and stay fighting. [Monday] we’ll come out fighting like we always do and keep moving forward.”
New York will head to Denver and start a three game set with the Rockies on Monday, as they look to keep their slim Wild Card hopes alive. Hopefully, the Mets can get some run support and turn to some other relievers so Lugo and Wilson can truly be saved for big spots.
