CHICAGO — Devin Williams’ last two appearances for the Mets have sounded the alarms.
After an ugly performance Wednesday against the Dodgers in a non-save situation, the right-hander got hit with his first blown save this season in Sunday’s ninth inning. Michael Conforto’s game-tying RBI double against Williams helped sink the Mets in their 2-1 loss to the Cubs in 10 innings.
“I missed down the middle, and he put a good swing on it,” Williams said.
Williams allowed a leadoff single to Ian Happ before the pinch hitter Conforto, with one out, delivered to tie the game.
In his previous appearance Williams recorded only one out and allowed four earned runs on three hits and one walk. He owns a 7.11 ERA in seven appearances.
It probably hasn’t helped that his usage has been limited by the scarcity of save situations. Sunday’s appearance was only his third in 14 days.
“That’s what comes with the job,” Williams said. “My job is to be there and be prepared and finish games when they get me the ball and I didn’t do that today.”
The Mets will face the Twins, Rockies and Nationals during a nine-game homestand that begins Tuesday. At some point during that stretch, Juan Soto is expected back in the lineup. Soto has missed the last 14 games rehabbing a right calf strain.
“He is so irreplaceable, and having him back is going to help us a lot,” Francisco Lindor said. “Hopefully he is back and he’s in the top three hitters in the league, probably the top two. He’s going to help us a ton and lengthen our lineup. But even when he comes we still have got to get it done. It would be unfair to throw everything on him as a team.”
Conforto’s ninth-inning double was the second game-tying hit of his career as a pinch hitter. His other was with the Mets on April 13, 2017 at Miami, a double in the eighth inning.
Brett Baty snapped an 0-for-22 skid with a single in his first plate appearance.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
