NEW YORK -- The end of a weird 10-8 Mets win over the Twins on Thursday night became a few degrees weirder when, for a moment, no one seemed to know who was pitching in the top of the ninth inning.
The Mets had just taken the lead on Bo Bichette’s three-run double in the bottom of the eighth when Huascar Brazobán climbed up Citi Field’s home dugout steps, jogged several paces and crossed the foul line. It was around that time that closer Devin Williams’ entrance music began blaring. Only then did Brazobán realize his mistake.
“Once the lights started going on and off when they changed the pitcher,” Brazobán said through an interpreter, “I was like, ‘[expletive].’ That’s when I realized.”
During the bottom of the eighth inning, a Mets coach told Brazobán that if the game remained tied, he would continue pitching, but if New York took the lead, Williams would enter. Though Bichette proceeded to hit the go-ahead double, back in the dugout, Brazobán was still stewing over the grand slam he had allowed in the top of the eighth. (Three of those runs were charged to Craig Kimbrel, who retired two of the five batters he faced.)
With his brain “on autopilot,” Brazobán forgot his instructions and reentered the playing field. Once he crossed the foul line, umpires ruled that Brazobán must face at least one batter, banishing Williams back to the bullpen. After taking a moment to refocus, Brazobán retired Austin Martin before giving way to Williams for the final two outs.
“I felt bad,” Brazobán said. “I was also a little bit embarrassed that I didn’t fully pay attention to what was going on. Sometimes when that happens, something bad can happen. But luckily I was able to go out there, get that out, and everything kind of went the way that it should have been by the end of it.”
Manager Carlos Mendoza also blamed himself for the goof, saying: “I speak Spanish. I need to go and tell him, make sure he gets the message.” But both he and Brazobán could at least discuss the incident afterward with a measure of levity, given that the Mets won the game.
Less humorous was the performance of Williams, who allowed three hits and a run before finally nailing down the final out. (Williams was credited with the win based on official scorer's discretion.) Williams, who declined an interview request after the game, has allowed one run or more in each of his past four outings, producing a 36.00 ERA over that stretch.
“He got that first out right away, and then they put some good swings on the changeup,” Mendoza said. “I thought overall, the conviction was there. He wasn’t just guiding the baseball. He was throwing the ball. So they got him, but he got the job done.”