This time, the crowd’s discontent was directed squarely at Devin Williams. As he walked off the field, heading toward the Mets’ dugout, his recent struggles were glaringly clear on the scoreboard.
In the ninth inning, after Williams was taken out, Austin Warren stepped in and struck out three batters in a row, prompting some sarcastic cheers of “MVP” and “Austin Warren.”
Perhaps this was a comedic twist of fate, considering Williams had been handed a hefty $51 million for three years and offered a chance to close for the Mets in the offseason, yet things had unraveled spectacularly.
In yet another setback, the Mets lost 5-3 to the Twins, marking Williams’ 12th consecutive defeat with the team. He gave up a hit, walked three, and allowed the final two runs to score, leaving his season ERA at an unfortunate 9.95.
He entered the game in a tie but couldn’t get an out, adding to the series of woes plaguing the Mets’ bullpen this month.
“It felt like we were a bit off mechanically,” Williams observed. “I wasn’t able to get my changeup over for strikes, so relying solely on my fastball made things pretty challenging.”
Williams arrived this season, sporting a career ERA of 4.95, yet had been demoted from the closer role shortly after being acquired by the Yankees last year.
Those same struggles resurfaced with the Mets, evident when they allowed a grand slam against the Dodgers and failed to close out a save against the Cubs recently.
In the latest outing against the Twins, his control was shaky at best. Three of five batters faced had three-ball counts, and he grappled with being a one-dimensional pitcher. His famed “Airbender” changeup was elusive, continuing to miss the strike zone.
He walked Josh Bell, then Ryan Jeffers, followed by a botched forceout on a sacrifice bunt by Mark Vientos, which loaded the bases. Luke Keishal’s hit to left field and a walk for Matt Wallner set up a potential moment for the Mets to end their longest losing streak since 2002.
“Once you start issuing walks, you really put yourself in hot water,” remarked coach Carlos Mendoza.
Meanwhile, Warren emerged almost ironically as the star of the night, capitalizing on the situation by hitting the bases-loading single.
Taking a chance on Williams had its risks. Concerns about his previous struggles with the Yankees were valid. Unfortunately, Tuesday served as yet another painful chapter in that ongoing saga.
