DETROIT – On Wednesday, a brief moment had fans of the Mets thinking a comeback was possible, but it quickly fell apart.
Ryan Healthley faced a tough outing in the seventh inning at Comerica Park, surrendering singles, walks, and home runs. For the second consecutive game, the right-hander was pulled before completing the inning.
This disappointing performance highlighted the struggles of the bullpen in the Mets’ 6-2 defeat to the Tigers, who prevented the Mets from achieving a three-game sweep.
Kelly Carpenter dealt a major blow with a three-run homer off Healthley’s blistering 100 mph fastball when the Mets were trailing 3-2. Left-hander Reilly Burg and Legory Soto previously let two inherited runners score.
This meltdown marks the latest chapter in Healthley’s struggles, as he holds an alarming 11.45 ERA in 14 appearances since being acquired at the trade deadline, with no scoreless innings to his name during that stretch.
After winning the first two games of the series and racking up 22 runs, the Mets found themselves stifled offensively against Casey Mize and the Tigers’ bullpen.
Next, the Mets travel to Cincinnati for three games against the Reds, who are trying to keep their dwindling wildcard hopes alive. The Mets started the day with a five-game lead over the Reds for the NL’s last wildcard spot.
Clay Holmes struggled, but after issuing a walk, he left the game after 88 pitches. Once he was out, both inherited runners scored. Overall, Holmes gave up three runs while striking out six but walked three batters in four and two-thirds innings.
Holmes allowed Jake Rogers to hit an RBI single early in the game, putting the Tigers up 1-0. Zach McKinstry’s single and catcher interference by Hayden Senger contributed, while Javier Baez managed to cross home plate. Holmes walked Spencer Torkelson but saw him thrown out at second base by Jeff McNeil as he attempted to advance on Wensel Perez’s hit.
In the third inning, Pete Alonso evened the game 1-1 with an RBI double. Francisco Lindor had previously doubled off Mize before Alonso notched his 113th RBI of the season.
In the fifth, Soto’s wild pitch advanced the runners to second and third, leading to Riley Green’s two-run single that put the Mets in a 3-1 deficit. Mark Vientos contributed an RBI single in the sixth, but the Mets faced a double play that ended their rally after loading the bases. Both Juan Soto’s walk and Alonso’s infield single initiated their attempt at a comeback.
