LOS ANGELES — The most current definition of “eureka” was the flow of manager Mickey Callaway’s pen scribbling the names Pete Alonso and Dominic Smith…
LOS ANGELES — The most current definition of “eureka” was the flow of manager Mickey Callaway’s pen scribbling the names Pete Alonso and Dominic Smith into the same starting lineup Wednesday.
And the most current definition of “ouch” was Edwin Diaz’s subsequent ninth-inning meltdown against the Dodgers that squandered a terrific night’s work by the lineup’s two big boys.
Diaz recorded just one out and surrendered four runs in the ninth, sending the Mets to their worst loss of the season, 9-8 at Dodger Stadium.
Alex Verdugo’s sacrifice fly brought Cody Bellinger sliding across home plate with the winning run and the sound of “I Love LA” blaring from the stadium speakers.
Joc Pederson and Max Muncy homered in Diaz’s inning from hell before Bellinger slapped an RBI double that pulled the Dodgers within 8-7. With the bases loaded, Verdugo hit a shot to left that was plenty deep enough to bring in the winning run.
“Today was easily the worst day of my career,” Diaz said after blowing his second save of the season. “The worst game of my career, the worst game of the season for me. I thought I threw excellent pitches for strikes. I was throwing the ball where I wanted to and they just got me.”
Robert Gsellman and Jeurys Familia contributed to the bullpen carnage, allowing a run apiece in the seventh and eighth innings respectively, as the Mets (27-28) squandered an 8-3 lead.
Pederson and Muncy homered in succession to begin the ninth and Justin Turner doubled.
