Despite pitching a scoreless 12th and wanting to carry on into the 13th, the Mets' closer was pulled from the game by Terry Collins.
A tough Mets loss to end an important stretch against the Nationals appears that it will sting a little more.
Days after being hampered by a lower back issue on Monday, Jenrry Mejia had to fight through a tight calf that kept him from pitching the 13th inning. He did pitch a scoreless 12th despite allowing a pair of hits in today's loss to Washington.
Mejia was willing to go back out, but was pulled from the game by Terry Collins. He was replaced by Carlos Torres, who subsequently dealt a leadoff walk to Ian Desmond before surrendering a two-run walk-off home run to the slumping Bryce Harper to hand the Nats the series victory.
Collins explained the reasoning behind the move after the game:
He said, ‘Well, if we get the lead, I can go back out.’ I said, ‘Well, I’m not going to lose you for six weeks for two outs or something. If you pull that thing, you’ll be done.’
Mejia didn't think the injury was all that serious. Adam Rubin at ESPNNewYork.com reported that the Mets' closer had the calf massaged before the game and told the team he was ready to go. After the game, the right-hander said that it wouldn't "affect (him) to be ready tomorrow."
An injury to the most important part of their bullpen would have been bad enough for Mets fans, but to have him pulled from a game in which he and his manager had differing opinions about his health—and then have his replacement end up with the losing decision—certainly adds a bit more fuel to the fire as the team heads up north to visit the Phillies for a four-game set.