Collins 'out of explanations' after Mets' bullpen implodes again
Saturday night's events were probably not on Terry Collins' birthday wish list.
As Collins ushered in his 68th birthday, his New York Mets took a one-run lead into the ninth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates, and Collins, for a few minutes, looked like he would be able to celebrate in style as he called on reliever Addison Reed to close out the contest.
That was when things began to fall apart, however, as Pirates pinch hitter John Jaso stroked a single to left field in the inning to score Gift Ngoepe and tie the game, labeling Reed with his second blown save of the campaign.
It was more of the same in the 10th, as Jaso again ruined Collins' birthday by hitting a walk-off single off Josh Edgin, leaving Collins incredulously looking for answers to the Mets' 20-27 start.
"I'm out of explanations," Collins told reporters postgame, according to Newsday's Marc Carig.
Related: Mets owner reportedly stands with Collins amid tumultuous start to season
Somehow, the tough loss wasn't even the worst news for the Mets on Saturday, who also saw starter Zack Wheeler leave after six innings due to a nagging blister on his right hand. The player concerns didn't end there, though, as they also discovered that Yoenis Cespedes' rehab stint for his hamstring issue had been derailed by right quad soreness, pushing the star outfielder's eventual big-league return that much farther into the horizon.
For his part, Reed didn't hesitate to blame himself for how the game unfolded.
"This is unacceptable," Reed said, according to Carig. "This is not how I am expecting to throw the ball. This is not what I’m getting paid for.
"The way I’m throwing the ball right now is absolutely unacceptable, there's no other words for it."