NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Already struggling to win games, the New York Mets also had difficulty figuring out which pitcher was supposed to be on the mound Thursday night.
Closer Devin Williams headed to the mound from the bullpen to start the ninth inning after Bo Bichette’s go-ahead, three-run double. And Huascar Brazob谩n walked back to the mound from the dugout.
Because Brazob谩n crossed the foul line, Williams was prevented from entering.
鈥淢istranslation there,鈥� Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said after his team hung to beat Minnesota 10-8 for its second straight win. 鈥淭he messaging there was if it鈥檚 tied, you鈥檙e going to go back out. We take the lead, Devin鈥檚 in the game. The thing that got stuck to him was 鈥業鈥檓 going back out.鈥�
鈥淚 speak Spanish. So I need to go and tell him to make sure he gets the message there.鈥�
Brazob谩n gave up a two-out grand slam in the eighth to Ryan Jeffers as the Twins knotted the score at 7 and completed their comeback from a pair of five-run deficits.
In the dugout afterward, Mendoza told Brazob谩n that he鈥檇 only pitch the ninth if the Mets didn鈥檛 take the lead 鈥� which they did on Bichette鈥檚 double.
Yet with the lights dimmed at Citi Field for the bottom of the inning, Williams headed to the mound from the bullpen as called for by Mendoza 鈥� as Brazob谩n simultaneously walked from the dugout back to the mound.
Asked what he thought watching Williams trot in, Brazob谩n delivered an answer in Spanish 鈥� punctuated by a profanity delivered in English with an accompanying a laugh.
鈥淭he lights are going off, and I was like 鈥榃ow,鈥欌�� Brazob谩n said through interpreter Alan Suriel 鈥淪o that鈥檚 when I realized.?
Brazob谩n retired Austin Martin on a groundout and Williams then relieved and struck out Luke Keaschall.
鈥淚 was frustrated with myself for the prior inning,鈥� Brazob谩n said. 鈥淭hey told me clearly if the game was tied, I鈥檇 go out. But if they took the lead, Devin would come in. But I kind of stayed on autopilot
鈥淗onestly, it was really my bad.鈥�
Brooks Lee singled and scored on Tristan Gray鈥檚 single, and Bryon Buxton鈥檚 double put the potential tying run in scoring position. Williams (1-1) then struck out Trevor Larnach 鈥� just the sixth out recorded by Williams over the last 20 batters he鈥檚 faced, during which his ERA has risen from 0.00 to 10.29.
Williams was awarded the win because Brazob谩n pitched briefly and ineffectively and surrendered the lead while throwing less than an inning.
The win was the second straight for the Mets after a 12-game losing streak 鈥� their longest since 2012. All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor was placed on the injured list prior to the game with a left calf injury suffered in Wednesday鈥檚 3-2 win 鈥� when Juan Soto returned from a 15-game absence due to a right calf injury.
鈥淎 lot happened there from the very beginning,鈥� Mendoza said. 鈥淏ut I鈥檓 glad that we were able to get the job done tonight.鈥�
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