The Mets were still within striking distance when Carlos Mendoza decided to call to the bullpen in the fourth inning for right-hander Adam Ottavino.
When the top of the fourth ended, the Phillies had blown the game wide open and the Mets were looking at a six-run deficit in what eventually turned into a 12-2 loss Friday night in a crucial game against their National League East rival.
As a whole, the Mets bullpen surrendered seven runs on nine hits on a night that Mendoza even turned to infielder Eddy Alvarez to pitch in the ninth to try to preserve some of their arms with the game all but over.
But the decision to pull David Peterson for Ottavino was one that loomed large over the defeat.
The Mets manager said that he felt he needed to be “aggressive” after his starter allowed four runs on eight hits in his 3 ²/₃ innings of work, which was the shortest start of the season for the southpaw Peterson.
“I thought the second time through [the lineup] they were putting together some really good at-bats,” Mendoza explained. “They made some really good adjustments and put the barrel on the ball. I thought I needed to be aggressive there and it didn’t work.”
Ottavino entered Friday’s game with a 4.21 ERA through 51 ¹/₃ innings this season, while the Mets had used him sparingly in high-leverage situations in 2024.
Mendoza’s reasoning for turning to Ottavino was succinct.
“I liked the right-on-right matchup, so, didn’t work,” the Mets’ skipper said straightforwardly.
Ottavino took over with two outs and a runner on base with Trea Turner at the plate.
The reliever allowed a Turner single to drive home Johan Rojas from third to extend the Phillies lead.
After walking Bryce Harper intentionally, Ottavino gave up a three-run blast to Alec Bohm on a 1-1 sweeper that he sent into the left-field stands to make it an 8-2 ballgame.
“It’s kind of the story. I mean, it really wasn’t much to it. Fourteen pitches and kind of ruined everything right there,” Ottavino told The Post.
The righty, who added “he was excited to contribute,” explained he fell behind against Harper, which led to the intentional walk, and Bohm got a good pitch to hit for his three-run homer.
Delivering insights on all things Amazin’s
Sign up for Inside the Mets by Mike Puma, exclusively on Sports+
Thank you
“I think he’s getting ahead, but not finishing hitters when he needs,” Mendoza said of Ottavino’s recent outings.
While the reliever said he would be able to push forward after the disappointing night, it didn’t lessen the sting of what transpired.
“It just sucks. I mean, I’ve been dying to contribute,” Ottavino said. “Haven’t had hardly any opportunities. Had a mini-opportunity there and didn’t get it done. So it hurts, but what are you going to do.”
