Mets rally late but fall to Twins in extra innings
The Mets' Jesse Winker walks back to the dugout after being thrown out at home plate during the second inning of a game against the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday in Minneapolis. Credit: AP/Abbie Parr
MINNEAPOLIS — In a 4-3, 10-inning loss to the Twins on Wednesday, the Mets lived an afternoon of firsts, from the heartwarming to the heartbreaking.
Before the game, they made their first transaction of the season, calling up righthander Justin Hagenman from Triple-A Syracuse. He pitched — and pitched well — in his first major-league game after parts of eight seasons in the minors with three organizations.
In the middle innings, the Mets had their first whiff on a challenge, ending their 5-for-5 start to the year. That wound up costing them a run later when a blatantly incorrect call in the Twins’ favor yielded another run and the Mets were unable to call for a replay review.
And at the end, they suffered their first loss at the hands of the bullpen. Ty France delivered a walk-off single against Reed Garrett after the Mets blew a two-on, no-out scoring chance in the top of the extra inning. That resulted in them dropping consecutive games for the first time this season, too.
It ruined what had been shaping up as a dramatic potential come-from-behind win. Down by three, the Mets (11-7) rallied for three in the eighth against Griffin Jax.
“We didn’t play good baseball for the first half,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “But then coming back in the eighth, putting a rally together against one of the better arms for them, it was really good to get back in the game. But overall we couldn’t close the deal today. We couldn’t get the job done. We gotta play better.”
Jesse Winker, whose hard ground ball in the 10th became a double play, said: “We fought hard. Just unfortunate that we came out on the unlucky side.”
Needing a stopgap solution because scheduled starter Griffin Canning headed back to New York with a stomach flu, the Mets opted to go with an opener — Huascar Brazoban — followed by freshly promoted Hagenman.
The idea: Use the better pitcher, Brazoban, for the first inning-plus against the Twins’ best hitters at the top of the lineup before turning it over to the would-be starter, Hagenman, who was able to ease in with the bottom half of the lineup.
For Hagenman, 28, it was a strong debut. He held the Twins to one run and three hits in 3 1/3 innings, striking out four and walking none, true to Mendoza’s pregame scouting report that Hagenman wouldn’t be afraid to throw strikes.
“It was everything you hope for and more,” Hagenman said. “I’m just glad I was able to settle in and treat it like a game, do what I’m used to. The beginning, first batter, you get up there and it’s a little different. I don’t even know how to describe it. Just a little different. But I feel like I was able to settle in and do what I do best: attack.”
Hagenman, a New Jersey native, had his fiancée, parents and brother in the stands.
“You never know if this is a one-time opportunity, so super happy that they were able to make it,” he said.
The Mets’ best scoring chance in the first half came in the top of the fifth, when they chased David Festa (4 1/3 innings, no runs) by loading the bases with one out, bringing Juan Soto to the plate.
Against lefthander Danny Coulombe, Soto chopped a first-pitch sinker — 90 mph over the heart of the plate — to second baseman Edouard Julien. Julien tagged Francisco Lindor and stepped on first for the unassisted inning-ending double play.
The Mets finished 3-for-12 with runners in scoring position.
Their .166 average in those spots this season ranks 29th in the majors. Their .318 slugging percentage is 25th.
“Right now we’re finding ways to win ballgames even without it, so proud of that,” Brandon Nimmo said. “But it’s something I expect to get better. We’re aware of it.”
Notes & quotes: First-base umpire Hunter Wendelstedt exited the game after getting hit in the head by a foul line drive off the bat of Tyrone Taylor in the seventh inning. Mendoza said he was told after the game that Wendelstedt was OK. “Every time you see something like that, it’s just scary,” Mendoza said. “So I’m glad he’s doing well” . . . Francisco Alvarez played again for Double-A Binghamton on Wednesday, his first time playing on back-to-back days since surgery last month to remove a broken bone in his left hand. He was fine after getting hit by a pitch in the left hand Tuesday. “A little scary,” Mendoza said . . . Paul Blackburn (right knee inflammation) is due to start a rehab assignment Saturday . . . Canning will return to start Thursday against the Cardinals, with David Peterson following Friday.
Tim Healey is the Mets beat writer for Newsday. Born on Long Island and raised in Connecticut, Tim has previously worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the Boston Globe and MLB.com. He is also the author of “Hometown Hardball,” a book about minor league baseball in the northeast.
