We got our first real look at the Mets’ retooled bullpen.
Kodai Senga labored for the third consecutive outing since returning from the IL, and was only able to get through four innings of work on Saturday against the Giants.
“With the way he was throwing, I was going to be aggressive as long as I had the guys available,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “It was just one of those days where he just didn’t have it.”
So after the offense finally pieced together a rally to strike twice and regain the lead in the bottom of the fourth, the skipper decided to turn things over to Reed Garrett in place of the struggling Senga in the fifth.
Garett put together a clean frame and then retired the first batter in the sixth, before handing things over to Gregory Soto who took care of business by striking out back-to-back hitters to end the inning.
Tyler Rogers then came on and pieced together a clean frame in his first appearance as a Met.
After the offense tacked on to put this one away for good, Brooks Raley threw a scoreless eighth and then Rico Garcia allowed a two-run homer as he put the finishing touches on the victory in the ninth.
Combined, they allowed just those two runs on five hits in as many innings.
And with the offense opening up the commanding lead in the late innings, both Ryan Helsley and Edwin Diaz were able sit down and get a full day of rest, so they should be fresh heading into Sunday’s series finale.
“For Kodai to not have his greatest stuff today and our bullpen to be able to pick him up, it’s just huge,” Brandon Nimmo said. “It’s a testament to the contributions and the additions we made I’m so happy to have these guys, we have a really deep bullpen that’s scary now.”
“The potential for those guys, sky’s the limit for them,” Pete Alonso added. “Everyone’s got nasty stuff down there, it’s tough at-bats from everybody — I’d hate to be the other team’s hitters in the box. It’s exciting.”
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