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    Sunday, May 05, 2024

    Familia falters again in 2-1 loss to Rockies

    New York Mets relief pitcher Jeurys Familia reacts after a run scored on a wild pitch during the ninth inning of Thursday's game against Colorado at Citi Field. Familia blew his second save opportunity in 24 hours, leading to the Rockies' 2-1 win. (Frank Franklin II/AP Photo)

    New York — Jeurys Familia had been perfect in the regular season for almost a full calendar year, converting 52 straight save opportunities before Wednesday night's loss against St. Louis.

    Less than 24 hours later, he blew another one.

    The Mets steady closer stumbled for a second straight game, allowing two runs in the ninth inning and the Colorado Rockies beat New York, 2-1, on Thursday for their seventh win in eight games.

    The All-Star right-hander entered in the top of the ninth with a 1-0 lead and couldn't hold it.

    Trevor Story had a leadoff single and stole second. After fellow rookie David Dahl walked, Daniel Descalso bunted up the first base line. Mets catcher Rene Rivera watched as the ball spun toward foul territory but it stopped fair, loading the bases with no outs.

    "I don't think it's a misjudgment. You have to think fast," Rivera said. "You have to catch it or let it go foul, and my gut said let it roll foul and it didn't."

    With one out, Familia (2-3) got pinch-hitter Cristhian Adames to hit a slow grounder to the right side. First baseman James Loney misplayed the ball and Story scored to make it 1-all. Familia then threw a wild pitch, allowing Dahl to cross the plate with the go-ahead run.

    "That's getting back on the horse," Mets manager Terry Collins said of his typically reliable closer. "This is a perfect situation to get him right back out there. We gotta get an out on the bunt play. Tough day all around again."

    Dealing with a rare early start to open a series because of a camp day at Citi Field, neither offense was able to do much against starters Jacob deGrom and Tyler Anderson.

    DeGrom allowed only one runner to reach second base over seven innings of scoreless ball.

    "I would say that's probably the best I've felt mechanically-wise," deGrom said.

    Rivera drove in the Mets' only run in the second inning with a double into the right-center field gap, but was easily tagged out at third trying to stretch it into a triple.

    Anderson struck out five and walked none, allowing seven hits over six innings.

    Jordan Lyles (3-3) pitched a scoreless eighth for the Rockies, and closer Carlos Estevez had a perfect ninth for his 11th save.

    New York loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh inning off reliever Jake McGee. Right-hander Scott Oberg came on to retire three straight batters to end the threat.

    "We could've blown that game open by some ground balls," Collins said. "Haven't been able to do it and that's what it comes down to."

    TRAINER'S ROOM

    Mets: 3B Jose Reyes missed his third straight game with a strained left ribcage, hurt during his final at-bat in the first game of a doubleheader on Tuesday. "He was pretty sore last night when he left here," Mets manager Terry Collins said Thursday morning. "I talked to the trainers before I left and they said there's just no way he's going to be able to play tomorrow." ... OF Yoenis Cespedes was not in the starting lineup due to a flare-up of a right quad injury first sustained on July 8. "Last night he came in when the game was over and said it was starting to bother him pretty bad," Collins said. Cespedes was walked intentionally as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning and was promptly lifted for a pinch runner.

    Rockies: OF Gerardo Parra (sprained left ankle) is set to begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Hartford on Friday. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list on June 17, retroactive to the 15th.

    UP NEXT

    Rockies: RHP Tyler Chatwood (9-6, 3.65) takes the hill on Friday night. He is 2-0 with a 1.57 ERA in four starts against the Mets. The 26-year-old won on Sunday against Atlanta, allowing no runs over five innings despite walking eight.

    Mets: LHP Steven Matz (8-6, 3.36) earned the win on Sunday in Miami, his first since May 25.

    Colorado catcher Tony Wolters, left, and Daniel Descalso collide as Wolters catches a foul ball by New York Mets' Wilmer Flores during the fourth inning of Thursday's game at Citi Field. (Frank Franklin II/AP Photo)

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