The Mets still haven’t won back-to-back games since before the All-Star break. This time, the fault goes to Hansel Robles for kicking away another winnable effort by Steven Matz.
Robles threw 32 pitches – few of them good – as he gave up three runs in two-thirds of an inning in the seventh of Tuesday night’s 5-3 loss to Arizona at Citi Field.
The Mets had taken a 3-2 lead in the sixth on Neil Walker’s two-run homer to give Matz a chance at the win.
However, manager Terry Collins allowed Robles to stay in the game to walk two hitters and give up three hits. The Diamondbacks also executed a double-steal It’s a close game, so it’s hard to understand Collins’ logic for leaving an ineffective reliever in the game that long.
“You saw him fall behind in some counts,” Collins said. “He had been so good. You think you have the perfect set-up. He just didn’t get it done.”
This is the second implosion for Robles in his last three relief appearances. He gave up three runs on three hits and two walks last week against the New York Yankees.
The Mets made acquiring a reliever a top priority last month and ended up signing Jon Niese at the trade deadline.
Reportedly, they have placed a waiver claim on a bullpen arm according to the Daily News, but no buzz on who or if they are close to completing a waiver trade.
