New York’s bullpen went from being very strong to struggling. Edwin Diaz couldn’t finish what would have been the first seven-out save of his career when he stumbled in the eighth inning, and Tylor Megill fell apart after getting two quick outs in the ninth.
Diaz and Megill together walked three batters and allowed four runs in the last two innings. Bryson Stott and Nick Castellanos got the hits that tied the Mets with the Phillies in the NL Division Series, following Philadelphia’s 7-6 win on Sunday night.
“You’re trying to stay away from different guys because you’re going to need all of them,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “Not only the high-leverage reliever guys are going to be in the game, and I’m going to ask them to get huge outs. Everybody is going to have to contribute.”
The Mets had used many pitchers from the bullpen during a strong finish to the season that brought them to the final day to secure a playoff spot in Atlanta, along with a tiring three-game Wild Card Series in Milwaukee.
Maybe a day off on Monday will give the bullpen the rest it needs.
Megill got the first two batters out in the ninth but then walked Trea Turner and Bryce Harper. Castellanos then hit the Phillies’ fifth career postseason walk-off hit.
“It obviously feels horrible. Walk-off. Not the way you want it to go,” Megill said. With the bullpen stretched thin, Mendoza understood that Megill was in a difficult situation in the ninth.
“When you’re facing that part of the order, it’s one after another, you know? So he was careful with Turner. He can take you deep, as well,” Mendoza said. “And then obviously you’ve got to pitch around Harper, and we just left that slider. I think it was too good of a pitch for Castellanos, and that’s another good hitter, and made him pay.”
