PHILADELPHIA (AP) — New York's bullpen went from lights out to lit up.
Edwin Diaz failed to seal what would have been the first seven-out save of his big league career when he faltered in the eighth inning and Tylor Megill unraveled after he recorded two quick outs in the ninth.
Diaz and Megill combined to walk three and allowed four runs over the final two innings. Bryson Stott and Nick Castellanos delivered the hits that dropped the Mets even with the Phillies in the NL Division Series heading to Citi Field following Philadelphia's 7-6 win on Sunday night.
“You’re trying to stay away from different guys, because you’re going to need all of them, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. ”Not only the high-leverage reliever guys are going to be in the game and I’m going to ask them to get huge outs. Everybody is going to have to contribute."
The Mets had churned through the bullpen during a late-season surge that took them to the final day to clinch a playoff spot in Atlanta and then and exhausting three-game Wild Card Series games in Milwaukee.
Maybe an off day Monday will give the bullpen a needed break.
Megill retired the first two batters of the ninth and walked Trea Turner and Bryce Harper. Castellanos followed with the Phillies’ fifth career postseason walk-off hit.
“It obviously feels horrible. Walk-off. Not the way you want it to go,” Megill said.
With the bullpen running thin, Mendoza knew Megill was put in a tough spot in the ninth.
“When you’re facing that part of the order, it’s one after another, you know? So he was careful with Turner. He can take you deep, as well,” Mendoza said. “And then obviously you’ve got to pitch around Harper and we just left that slider. I think it was too good of a pitch for Castellanos, and that’s another good hitter, and made him pay.”
Diaz, who had 20 saves in 27 chances this season, struck out home run threat Kyle Schwarber with two on to end the seventh inning.
He walked Harper and Castellanos in the eighth, and Stott lined a slider into right field for a two-RBI triple and a 5-4 lead. Díaz, who has a 9.37 ERA at Citizens Bank Park, was removed after throwing 104 pitches in three outings over a seven-day span.
J.T. Realmuto hit a run-scoring grounder off Megill that made it 6-4.
“After the walk to Harper, I went lazy to him instead of attacking him,” Diaz said. “I tried to make pitches to see if he could chase. Castellanos, I pitched him like I always do.”
The bullpen collapse was in stark contrast to the outstanding effort in Game 1 when three relievers pitched six shutout innings.
“This is a big moment for us,” Diaz said. “I've got to be ready, always.”
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
New York Mets' Mark Vientos reacts after hitting a two-run home run against Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Matt Strahm during the ninth inning of Game 2 of a baseball NL Division Series, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
New York Mets' Mark Vientos celebrate past Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto after hitting a two-run home run against Phillies pitcher Matt Strahm during the ninth inning of Game 2 of a baseball NL Division Series, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
New York Mets pitcher Edwin Díaz walks back to the mound after giving up a two-run triple to Philadelphia Phillies' Bryson Stott during the eighth inning of Game 2 of a baseball NL Division Series, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
New York Mets pitcher Edwin Díaz looks out of the dugout after being pulled during the eight inning of Game 2 of a baseball NL Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Only one person would have been comfortable enough to predict Xavier McKinney would have an interception in his first five games with the Green Bay Packers.
It's no surprise that person is McKinney himself.
“Nah, I wouldn’t have thought you (were) crazy at all,” McKinney said after becoming the first NFL player since the 1970 merger to have an interception in his first five games with a team in Sunday's 24-19 victory over the Los Angeles Rams. “I went into the season, I’m on a mission ... Everything that I didn’t get before, that’s what I’m coming for.”
McKinney — signed by the Packers during the offseason after four seasons with the New York Giants — reached the milestone with 8:10 remaining in the third quarter when he picked off Matthew Stafford on an overthrown pass intended for Tutu Atwell. McKinney hauled it in at the Green Bay 18-yard line and returned it 28 yards.
McKinney was playing the deep part of the field but made a great break on the play and trusted his instincts despite being looked off most of the game by Stafford.
“It was probably the most looked off I’ve been this year. So it was difficult, but I know if I trust it, my craft and my instincts, I was gonna be able to get one,” McKinney said.
Stafford said McKinney did a nice job reading the play and that he might have put too much on the pass.
The Packers would convert the interception into a 7-yard touchdown reception by Tucker Kraft to extend their lead to 24-13. McKinney also had a fumble recovery earlier in the quarter that led to Green Bay's go-ahead touchdown.
McKinney tied Irv Comp's run of five straight in 1943 for the longest interception streak in franchise history.
“The guy just has a knack for the football and he’s got great ball skills. He’s very instinctive and smart to allow him to anticipate, to make plays, and then he generally makes the play,” coach Matt LaFleur said. “I’m sure there was one play in the second half that he’d like to have back because he might have had another one right there. Certainly, I think he’s been obviously a very key pickup for us in free agency.”
McKinney also had a pick in Week 18 last season with the Giants, which extends his total run to six games over two seasons. He is the fourth player since 1990 to have an interception streak of at least six, joining Dallas’ Trevon Diggs (2021), Minnesota’s Brian Russell (2003) and Carolina’s Doug Evans (2001).
McKinney is also the fourth player since 2000 with an interception in each of his team’s first five games of a season, joining Diggs, Russell and Cincinnati’s Lemar Parrish (1979).
The pair of streaks, though, will be the last thing on his mind when the Packers host the Arizona Cardinals next Sunday.
"Not really thinking about it. I’m just trying to make plays wherever I can make plays at. I don’t go into games thinking like, ‘Alright, let me try to get a pick.’ I’m just continuing to trust in my path and the work that I put into this game and it’s paying off," McKinney said.
McKinney leads the league with five picks. It is also tied with the most he has had in a season, which was in 2021 with the Giants. During training camp, he said his goal for the season was seven.
“I’m not there yet. We got a long season. I’m not gonna sit up here and celebrate my picks because I know that it can be more than that,” he said. "I dropped one today. I’m gonna get back to work and continue to just keep working on my craft and try to keep getting more of those.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Green Bay Packers players celebrate an interception by safety Xavier McKinney (29) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney (29) intercepts the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney (29) attempts to intercept a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
