Tigers squander too many chances, fall to Mets 5-4 in 13 innings
NEW YORK (AP) — Tomas Nido homered against Buck Farmer leading off the 13th inning, Wilson Ramos homered twice and the New York Mets beat the Detroit Tigers 5-4 Saturday for another comeback victory during this wild homestand.
Nido drove a 2-0 pitch from Farmer (3-4) narrowly over the wall in right-center, ending a game full of wasted chances for both teams. Nido was doused with water at home plate, and Noah Syndergaard dumped a bag of popcorn over his head during an on-field postgame interview.
Nido entered as a pinch-hitter in the 11th. The backup catcher connected for his third career home run.
New York has won five of six at Citi Field this week despite trailing in all but one of those games. That comes after the front office spoke up Monday to defend embattled second-year manager Mickey Callaway. The Mets (25-26) can climb back to .500 with a win Sunday.
All-Star closer Edwin Diaz entered with New York leading 4-3 in the eighth seeking his first four-out save of the season — his first stab at one since Callaway changed his tune on using Diaz for more than three outs days earlier. Diaz replaced Robert Gsellman with a runner on third and quickly allowed a tying single to JaCoby Jones for his first blown save as a Met. Diaz had converted 22 straight save chances dating to last season, including 12 this year.
Wilmer Font replaced Diaz to start the ninth. He got a 1-4-3 double play from Nicholas Castellanos to end that inning, then froze Jones with a 3-2 curveball to strand two runners in the 10th.
Detroit left-hander Daniel Stumpf pitched out of a one-out, bases-loaded situation in the 11th. He struck out Aaron Altherr on a 3-2 pitch, then went to another full count against Adeiny Hechavarria, who hit a chopper that Stumpf deflected with his glove before corralling and throwing to first.
New York’s Hector Santiago (1-0) escaped an identical jam in the 12th with a strikeout and a flyout.
Detroit was 1 for 13 with runners with runners in scoring position and stranded 14. New York left seven on base.
Ramos drove in four and had New York’s only three hits through eight innings, including a go-ahead, two-run shot in the sixth. The Mets catcher has three homers in two days, bringing his total to five for the season.
Ramos also picked off Gordon Beckham at first base following his pinch-hit, leadoff single in the 11th. Ramos walked with one out in the 11th and was pinch-run for by pitcher Steven Matz.
Dawel Lugo had a career-high four hits for Detroit, which has dropped 10 of 11 after ending a nine-game skid Friday.
Brandon Dixon put Detroit ahead 3-2 in the sixth his first career pinch-hit homer, a two-run shot against Tyler Bashlor.
Tigers left-hander Ryan Carpenter threw five efficient innings, allowing two runs and two hits over 56 pitches in his third career start, but he left trailing thanks in part to consecutive balk calls against him in the fourth. The balks advanced J.D. Davis from first to third after he reached on Lugo’s error at third, and Davis then scored on Ramos’ single.
Carpenter seemed confused by what triggered the infractions, and manager Ron Gardenhire argued with crew chief Jerry Meals and second base umpire Ron Kulpa before having words with Carpenter. Meals, the first base umpire, appeared to signal that Carpenter was coming to the set position twice.
Mets starter Jason Vargas navigated trouble effectively throughout his return from the injured list with a strained left hamstring. He had a runner on base in each of his five innings but limited Detroit to a run and five hits.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
Mets third baseman Todd Frazier made a diving stop toward the line to rob Castellanos of a hit in the fifth. Frazier got big cheers for the play, just moments after being booed for striking out in the fourth.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Tigers: INF Jordy Mercer was set to begin an injury rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo. Mercer has been out since May 9 with a right quad strain.
Mets: OF Michael Conforto again participated in baseball activities, and New York hopes he’ll clear Major League Baseball’s concussion protocol to return Sunday. … INF Luis Guillorme was sent to Triple-A Syracuse to make room for Vargas, leaving New York with just 12 position players.
UP NEXT
Detroit starts another rookie, RHP Spencer Turnbull (2-3, 2.68), against New York RHP Zack Wheeler (3-3, 4.74). Turnbull entered Saturday third among qualified rookie starters in ERA and strikeouts (54).
