Tommy Hunter Bullpen

Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Mets bullpen was among the few silver linings in New York’s 5-3 loss to the Houston Astros on Wednesday afternoon at Minute Maid Park.

Carlos Carrasco got the nod in this game and was teed off against in the first inning. Before recording an out, Carrasco allowed four runs on a walk, double, and two home runs. While he settled down to retire seven of the next eight batters faced, he then gave up another home run and a walk before leaving the game with lower back tightness.

Between the poor start by Carrasco mixed with his early departure due to injury, it looked like the Mets would soon be completely out of the game. However, the Mets bullpen combined for 5 2/3 scoreless innings to provide the Mets with a chance to come back.

Yoan Lopez replaced Carrasco in the third inning. He got out of the inning by inducing a fly ball from Yuli Gurriel and then making quick work of Chas McCormick whom he struck out on three-straight 88 MPH sliders.

Lopez stayed in for two more innings, limiting the Astros to only one hit during that time. It was the Cuban native’s fourth outing of the year, and he lowered his ERA from 6.75 to 4.05 with the 2 2/3 scoreless innings pitched.

Tommy Hunter was called into the game for the sixth inning. The 15-year vet had a perfect inning as he used 11 pitches to get Gurriel to ground out, and both McCormick and Jason Castro to strike out swinging.

Hunter was also asked to start off the seventh inning as the first two batters due up were right-handers. He allowed a single to Mauricio Dubón and got Jose Altuve to fly out before Buck Showalter opted for the left-hander Joely Rodriguez to pitch to the left-handed Michael Brantley.

Hunter has yet to allow an earned run in his brief career with the Mets, as he extended his scoreless innings streak with the team to 11 innings dating back to last year.

Rodriguez got Brantley to pop out to record the second out of the seventh inning. He then hit Alex Bregman with an 84 MPH slider before getting Yordan Alvarez out on strikes to end the inning.

Rodriguez started off the eighth inning and he responded by getting Kyle Tucker to ground out on one pitch and Gurriel to pop out on two pitches.

“It’s good to see Joely get a return,” said Showalter. “I know how much it’s been frustrating for him.”

Despite Rodriguez rolling, Showalter decided to bring in Edwin Diaz to give him some work.

“I wanted to make sure Eddy got out there and we didn’t extend him too much in case we needed him in the ninth inning,” said Showalter.

Diaz gave up a single to McCormick before striking out Castro on a 101 MPH fastball.

Despite the loss, the Mets bullpen kept things competitive and also helped Showalter avoid using some of the pitchers he wanted to save for the upcoming series with the Miami Marlins such as Drew Smith and Adam Ottavino.