Homer spoils Smith's return to Mets' bullpen

NEW YORK -- For 12 days, Drew Smith bided his time, feeling frustrated that he could not help the Mets. When Smith finally returned, it was not what he hoped it might be.

On the day he was reinstated from suspension, Smith gave up a decisive two-run homer in a 2-1 loss to the Brewers on Monday night at Citi Field, deepening the bullpen problems of a Mets team that has been unable to pull the correct late-inning levers.

One night after New York’s three highest-leverage relievers went unused in a crushing loss to the Phillies, David Robertson, Adam Ottavino and Brooks Raley all threw scoreless innings in a game the Mets lost anyway.

“We’ve just got to keep going,” Smith said. “It’s a long season, and obviously the results haven’t been there for most of the guys on the team. We know that and we’re trying to be better, and I think we will be as the rest of the season goes on.”

Whether Smith and his bullpen peers will be available on Tuesday remains to be seen. On this night, the result hinged upon Smith, who entered after Justin Verlander needed 100 pitches to complete five scoreless innings.

Smith allowed a leadoff single to Jesse Winker then, after recording two outs, a two-run homer to Joey Wiemer. On a night when the offense again sputtered, it was enough to send the Mets to their 16th loss in 21 games.

“I don’t think anybody saw this coming,” Verlander said.

The defeat was certainly not how Smith wanted to return from suspension.

Initially, the right-hander considered appealing his 10-game sticky stuff ban, but after talking to his agent, to the players’ union and to teammate Max Scherzer, Smith came away convinced he wouldn’t win. So, Smith instead flew to Florida to throw in simulated games, working to stay sharp while he awaited his reinstatement.

“I wanted to appeal because I don’t want it to look like I’m just accepting it and I’m guilty, because I don’t feel like I am,” said Smith, who rejoined the active roster prior to Monday’s series opener. “But at the same time for the team, it was smart to just accept it.”

Flagged by umpire Bill Miller as he entered a June 13 game against the Yankees, Smith was ejected for what Miller called a “distinctly” stickier hand than most pitchers show during routine substance checks.

Much like Scherzer back in April, Smith insisted he was using nothing more than sweat and rosin -- both legal substances to grip a baseball that can become illegal when used in excess. Regardless of whether Smith crossed that line, a sticky substance ejection comes with an automatic 10-game suspension.

According to Smith, he did nothing different to prepare for that game than he has throughout his career. So it will be difficult for him to change now that he is reinstated.

“I mean, I wasn’t doing anything illegal, so it’s hard for me to say or want to do anything different, right?” Smith said. “I think I will probably be a little more careful in the bullpen if it’s a hot day and I’m using the rosin, and my hands feel tacky -- I’ll definitely be a little worried. I’ll probably clean them off or get them to where they’re not as bad and go in the game with a ‘better-feeling hand,’ I guess.

“It’s just part of it now. It’s something I’ll have to deal with because I’m sure the first couple checks when I come back will be a little more extensive. I’ll be smart about it for sure.”

Also like Scherzer, Smith accepted his suspension because of how it lined up with New York’s schedule. By declining to appeal, Smith ensured that the Mets, who played shorthanded during the suspension, would have the benefit of two off days over that stretch. An unsuccessful appeal could have left the team even more exposed.

“From a team aspect, I was like, I’m just going to wear it,” Smith said. “I’m not going to win the appeal anyway.”

What Smith hoped for was a swift return -- both to the field and to success on the mound.

The former occurred on Monday. The latter will have to wait, though manager Buck Showalter dismissed the narrative that Smith was at fault for Monday’s loss.

As he has routinely done throughout this run of 16 losses in 21 games, Showalter instead turned his attention toward an offense that mustered only three hits.

“I’m not going to hang this on Smitty,” Showalter said. “We should be able to create some more margin for error for a guy coming back.”