NEW YORK — The New York Mets’ downward spiral continued Friday night with yet another bullpen breakdown, as the team squandered a late lead in an 11-9 loss to the Seattle Mariners at Citi Field. The defeat marked the Mets’ 14th loss in their last 16 games, intensifying scrutiny on a team that began the season with postseason aspirations but now sits near the bottom of the National League standings.
Bullpen Woes Continue
For the second consecutive night, the Mets’ relief corps failed to protect a lead. After starter José Quintana left the game in the sixth inning with the Mets up 7-5, the bullpen surrendered six runs over the final three frames. Right-hander Reed Garrett was charged with the loss after giving up three runs in the eighth, capped by a two-run double from Mariners slugger Julio Rodríguez.
Manager Carlos Mendoza expressed frustration after the game, acknowledging that the bullpen has been stretched thin.
“We’ve asked a lot from these guys over the last few weeks, but at the end of the day, we have to execute,” Mendoza told reporters. “You can’t keep giving away games when you’re ahead.”
The Mets’ bullpen has now allowed 29 runs in the past seven games, ranking among the worst relief units in Major League Baseball since the All-Star break, according to MLB.com.
Mariners Capitalize on Mets’ Mistakes
Seattle, in contrast, capitalized on nearly every Mets miscue. Rodríguez finished the night with four RBIs, while Ty France added a key two-run homer in the seventh inning that tied the game. The Mariners improved to 63-55 and tightened their grip on a potential American League Wild Card berth.
Manager Scott Servais praised his team’s resilience.
“We’ve been in a lot of tight games this year, and our guys never quit,” Servais said. “When you see the other side struggling to close things out, you’ve got to pounce, and we did.”
Fans Voice Frustration
At Citi Field, the frustration was palpable. Fans booed heavily as Garrett exited the mound, and chants of “Sell the team!” echoed throughout the stadium in the late innings. Some fans even left before the final out, unwilling to watch another late-game collapse.
“This team finds new ways to lose every night,” said Anthony Rivera, a lifelong Mets fan from Queens. “It’s heartbreaking because we know the talent is there, but the bullpen is a disaster.”
Playoff Hopes Fading
The loss drops the Mets to 52-68, a staggering 12 games out of the final Wild Card spot in the National League. Just two months ago, the Mets hovered around .500 and appeared positioned for a late-season push. Instead, injuries to key relievers, inconsistent starting pitching, and offensive slumps have derailed their season.
According to ESPN, the Mets’ postseason odds have plummeted below 5%, making a turnaround increasingly unlikely unless they can string together a winning streak.
What’s Next
The Mets will attempt to salvage the series in the finale on Sunday, with rookie right-hander Christian Scott slated to start against Mariners ace Luis Castillo. But unless the bullpen can find stability, analysts warn that even strong starts may not be enough to prevent further late-inning meltdowns.
Baseball columnist Ken Rosenthal noted in The Athletic that the Mets’ bullpen issues highlight broader roster construction flaws. “It’s not just one or two relievers,” Rosenthal wrote. “This is a systemic problem that needs an offseason overhaul.”
For now, the Mets’ season teeters on the brink of collapse, and fans are left wondering whether the team can stop the bleeding before the year becomes another lost chapter in franchise history.