Bullpen big contributor in Mets continued drive to wildcard

By Rich Mancuso/Sports Editor

 

mets-phillies-2016

Photo credit: Gerson Legend

New York Mets manager Terry Collins utilized a bullpen Friday night at Citi Field that had to come up strong. Righthander Gabriel Ynoa  was put in a tough position to get the start because Steven Matz was not able to throw again as the left  shoulder tightness persists. Ynoa did not last long but the bullpen and offense came up strong, as the Mets took their second straight from the Philadelphia Phillies 10-5.

“Five-six base runners in the first two innings,” said Collins, “I didn’t like the way this was going.” So Collins replaced Ynoa, a replacement starter out of the pen after tossing 2.0 innings on five hits and two runs.

Photo credit: Gerson Legend

Photo credit: Gerson Legend

The bullpen took over and in the end, Hansel Robles got his first save and recorded the final eight outs.  Four other relievers took the mound before Robles came up strong. Saturday night when the series continues. Collins will go to another spot starter out of the pen because Noah Syndergaard had to be scratched from his start due to a strep throat.

Collins hopes lefthander Sean Gilmartin can give the Mets some innings, as Syndergaard gets added rest from an illness and not an ailment to his arm.

With their win, New York overcame the setback of a three-game sweep to the Atlanta Braves. These are the games the Mets need to win in their quest for one of two postseason NL Wild card spots and pending the outcome of the Giants-Padres game, they could have a game lead with eight games remaining.

Collins said, if a save was needed he had Fernando Salas ready in the pen. Jeurys Familia and Addison Reed were not available having worked a good amount of innings in the Braves series, so the expanded roster and arms in the bullpen enabled Collins to utilize what he had.

“Tip my hat to all these young kids,” Collins said about the bullpen and their ability to pick up the win. “They stepped up.”

Saturday night, according to Collins is a game the Mets have to win.  If the offense helps then going to the bullpen won’t be necessary, that is, unless Gilmartin does not go deep in his first start of the season.

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Photo credit: Gerson Legend

Michael Conforto hit a three-run homer in the fifth inning, his 12th, which was the big blow in the Mets six-run inning. Conforto, who was a major role in Mets lineup last September, hit his first long ball since August 7th at Detroit and his three RBI matched a career high.

“It was not a challenge,” Conforto said about spending a majority of August with Triple-A Las Vegas. “I want to help this team and keep the energy going.”  He finished the night going 2-for 3, also with an impressive double to right field and his home run was hit to the opposite field.

That energy for the Mets, as they say is leading to this late season run for the wild card.  But Gilmartin has a task against the offensive challenged Phillies, and Collins said about his team, “They’re bound and determined.”

Added Collins, “I know one thing: You come to the park these days, you know you’re going to get in a game. “I was pretty happy I only had to use seven tonight. I had eight or nine ready,’ he said about the pitchers that were available.

That will be the storyline Saturday night, the Mets and their determination. If another bullpen arm comes up big in the unexpected starting role, the Mets could get that much closer to an eventual wildcard spot.

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