After losing the lead in this game, Jose Butt may have gained a little more credibility within the Mets.
The starter-turned-relief pitcher found another way to prove himself during a bizarre and eventful eighth inning in which he allowed the tying run but no more, battling both a strong Orioles lineup and a shaky strike zone during the Mets’ 4-3 win Wednesday at Citi Field.
“I thought he did a really good job,” manager Carlos Mendoza said of Bhutto, who made his second appearance after a day of rest but struggled rather than dominated.
Perhaps the best relief pitcher since the team’s transition, the right-hander took to the mound with a one-run lead and Colton Cowser on first base.
Ramon Urias worked a full count and then stared down a changeup that was closer to the middle of the plate than it was to the edge.
Catcher Luis Torrence caught the ball but did not have time to properly catch it, so instead rose and threw to second base, where Jose Iglesias slap-tagged Cowser as he stole, resulting in what appeared to be a strikeout-throw double play.
However, home plate umpire Marvin Hudson called the strike a ball, putting the team in a runner-on-runner position with no outs and two outs.
“The reality is, I thought the pitch was close, so it was a two-out, nobody on base situation,” Mendoza said, but his opinion wasn’t alone.
Bhutto recovered, but not immediately.
He walked Jaxon Holiday, loading the bases with no outs before the tide (and the calls) turned.
He needed just four pitches to strike out pinch hitter Ryan O’Hearn, including one that was clearly off the plate but was called a strike, after O’Hearn was ejected for an altercation.
All-Star Adley Rutschman hit a high fly ball to left field that was caught by Brandon Nimmo for a sacrifice fly, tying the game.
And after going 1-for-3 against Baltimore’s best hitter, Gunnar Henderson, Butts worked his way back up in the count.
Henderson fouled off three pitches before hitting a pop fly changeup to Mark Vientos to get away with it.
“That’s why he’s been such a big part of our relief corps, his ability to slow down the game,” Mendoza said of Bhutto. Bhutto was impressive in his long relief outings, but now he’s showing something even in his short outings: “The ability to control the pitch.”
“He finished that innings. [Henderson]”It was very impressive, even though he wasn’t trying to get too specific. It could have gotten out of hand, but he found a way.”
A strong pitch from Butts and another strong pitch from Edwin Diaz in the next inning gave the Mets a chance to win in the bottom of the ninth, and a home run by Jesse Winker sealed the 4-3 victory at Citi Field.
“It was a great match for him,” Mendoza said of Bhutto.
