Alvarez’s Gesture for Blackburn
DENVER – Francisco Alvarez aimed to hand the ball from the final out to the rookie referee who officiated his first game on Sunday. But there were some voices of dissent.
“Hey, man, that’s my first career save,” Paul Blackburn remarked after the Mets triumphed over the Rockies 13-5 at Coors Field.
He ultimately accepted the ball.
Blackburn pitched four innings for the save, stepping in after Tyler Megill wrapped up five innings with 82 pitches.
Despite allowing three runs—two in the ninth—Blackburn managed seven hits and one walk during his outing.
Coach Carlos Mendoza explained that the plan was to first tackle the Dodgers, who threw 105 pitches the previous Tuesday, allowing Blackburn to rest and extend his presence in the lineup.
This approach helps relieve the burden on a weary bullpen.
Blackburn felt a surge of excitement, saying, “There was about a 99.9% chance I was in the game today,” noting he hadn’t been relieved since 2023. “That first inning had a bit of juice flowing. It felt like I was making my debut again.”
Having returned from injury last Monday, he previously pitched five scoreless innings against the Dodgers as part of a six-man rotation.
Following that game, Mendoza shifted back to a five-man rotation, moving Blackburn to the bullpen.
“It was huge for him to get out there and secure his first save, but it’s all about finishing the game,” Mendoza said. “He played an important role in the bullpen and managed to get the job done today.”
In a separate event, Frankie Montas made a rehabilitation start for Triple-A Syracuse, logging 76 pitches over 3²/₃ innings. He surrendered three runs and three hits during what marked a second subpar performance, which also included four walks.
The right-hander, who is recovering from LAT tension, is set to make at least one more start in the minors before any decisions regarding his return from the injured list are made.
The Mets had previously enjoyed an eight-game winning streak against the Rockies up until last season. This is the longest winning streak against Colorado for the Mets since their eleven consecutive victories from 2014 to 2015.
