Converted starting pitcher Jose Butt has emerged as a game-changer for the Mets as a relief pitcher and a multi-inning weapon since returning from the minor leagues earlier this month.
Butt and Dedniel Nunez continued to energize an inconsistent bullpen, recording the final 14 outs of the Mets’ 7-3 win over the Rockies on Saturday at Citi Field. The Mets have now won five straight games with one game left before the All-Star break.
The Mets continued their strong run with two key RBIs from Jeff McNeil and a three-run homer from Francisco Lindor in the eighth inning. The Mets are 25-10 in their last 35 games, improving to 49-45 overall and clinching the second wild card spot in the National League.
“I think it’s all about having good players. You look in the locker room, we have a lot of great players, that’s what it’s all about,” Carlos Mendoza said before the game, “but they push each other, they hold each other accountable, they prepare right, and then they go out and not only compete, but they have fun. That’s how you play good, consistent baseball.” [together].”
Rookie right-hander Christian Scott pitched 4 1/3 innings in his third start since being recalled from Triple-A Syracuse for his second major league attempt of the season.
The pitcher gave up three runs on seven hits, walked one and struck out five, and in the fifth inning, Charlie Blackmon hit a two-run homer to cut the Mets’ lead to 4-3.
Butt, who had not allowed a run in 7 2/3 innings in four relief appearances since July 2, replaced Scott with two runners on base in the inning but got Elias Diaz out to get a 3-6-1 double play.
Butt struck out five over the next two innings to maintain the one-run lead, but allowed a single and a walk in the top of the eighth.
Nunez, who left all 12 runners he’s taken over with this season, stepped up to replace him and promptly got Diaz out for another double play.
Brenton Doyle then fouled out to end the inning, and Nunez pitched the ninth scoreless inning to earn his first career save.
The Mets have been on a roll in recent weeks, and Mendoza felt comfortable taking two in-form players out of the lineup after they’d each hit two home runs the night before.
Harrison Bader and Jose Iglesias, who hit four of the Mets’ five home runs in their 7-6 win over the Rockies on Friday night, appeared in Game 2 of the weekend series.
Brandon Nimmo replaced Bader in center field, Ben Gamel in left field and DJ Stewart in right field, while McNeil started at second base in place of Iglesias after playing right field in Friday’s game.
McNeil, who was in poor form, hit a two-run double in the second inning and then turned what could have been a double play grounder by Luis Torrens into a throwing error by Rockies second baseman Brendan Rodgers to give the Mets a 4-0 lead.
Scott, who is still without his first major league win after eight starts, gave up a solo home run by Jake Cave in the third inning to cut the Mets’ lead to 4-1.
Scott couldn’t complete the fifth inning, but Bats and the relief pitchers came to the rescue for the Mets.
Bhutto, who started seven major league games earlier this season, recorded his first major league save by recording the final four outs in Wednesday’s win over Washington.
“He’s not afraid,” Mendoza said of Butt on Friday. “He gets the ball no matter the situation, and you saw that the other day when he was out there. [a] High Leverage [situation] “Against the Nationals, he’s going to pitch and attack hitters, so I think that’s good.”
Lindor hit a three-run homer to center field off Jalen Beeks in the eighth inning for his 17th homer of the season and extended the Mets’ lead to 7-3.
