Homer spoils Smith’s return to Mets’ bullpen

NEW YORK — For 12 days, Drew Smith bided his time, feeling pissed off that he couldn’t assist the Mets. When Smith lastly returned, it was not what he hoped it could 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 evening at Citi Area, deepening the bullpen issues of a Mets crew that has been unable to drag the right late-inning levers.

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

“We’ve simply acquired to maintain going,” Smith mentioned. “It’s a protracted season, and clearly the outcomes haven’t been there for many of the guys on the crew. We all know that and we’re making an attempt to be higher, and I feel we might be as the remainder of the season goes on.”

Whether or not Smith and his bullpen friends might be accessible on Tuesday stays to be seen. On this evening, the end result hinged upon Smith, who entered after Justin Verlander wanted 100 pitches to finish 5 scoreless innings.

Smith allowed a leadoff single to Jesse Winker then, after recording two outs, a two-run homer to Joey Wiemer. On an evening when the offense once more sputtered, it was sufficient to ship the Mets to their sixteenth loss in 21 video games.

“I don’t assume anyone noticed this coming,” Verlander mentioned.

The defeat was definitely not how Smith wished to return from suspension.

Initially, the right-hander thought-about interesting his 10-game sticky stuff ban, however after speaking to his agent, to the gamers’ union and to teammate Max Scherzer, Smith got here away satisfied he wouldn’t win. So, Smith as an alternative flew to Florida to throw in simulated video games, working to remain sharp whereas he awaited his reinstatement.

“I wished to attraction as a result of I don’t need it to appear to be I’m simply accepting it and I’m responsible, as a result of I don’t really feel like I’m,” mentioned Smith, who rejoined the lively roster previous to Monday’s sequence opener. “However on the identical time for the crew, it was sensible to only settle for it.”

Flagged by umpire Invoice Miller as he entered a June 13 sport in opposition to the Yankees, Smith was ejected for what Miller known as a “distinctly” stickier hand than most pitchers present throughout routine substance checks.

Very similar to Scherzer again in April, Smith insisted he was utilizing nothing greater than sweat and rosin — each authorized substances to grip a baseball that may develop into unlawful when utilized in extra. No matter whether or not Smith crossed that line, a sticky substance ejection comes with an computerized 10-game suspension.

In accordance with Smith, he did nothing totally different to arrange for that sport than he has all through his profession. So will probably be tough for him to vary now that he’s reinstated.

“I imply, I wasn’t doing something unlawful, so it’s arduous for me to say or need to do something totally different, proper?” Smith mentioned. “I feel I’ll most likely be somewhat extra cautious within the bullpen if it’s a scorching day and I’m utilizing the rosin, and my palms really feel cheesy — I’ll positively be somewhat apprehensive. I’ll most likely clear them off or get them to the place they’re not as dangerous and go within the sport with a ‘better-feeling hand,’ I assume.

“It’s simply a part of it now. It’s one thing I’ll should take care of as a result of I’m positive the primary couple checks after I come again might be somewhat extra in depth. I’ll be sensible about it for positive.”

Additionally like Scherzer, Smith accepted his suspension due to the way it lined up with New York’s schedule. By declining to attraction, Smith ensured that the Mets, who performed shorthanded in the course of the suspension, would take pleasure in two off days over that stretch. An unsuccessful attraction may have left the crew much more uncovered.

“From a crew side, I used to be like, I’m simply going to put on it,” Smith mentioned. “I’m not going to win the attraction anyway.”

What Smith hoped for was a swift return — each to the sector and to success on the mound.

The previous occurred on Monday. The latter must wait, although supervisor Buck Showalter dismissed the narrative that Smith was at fault for Monday’s loss.

As he has routinely achieved all through this run of 16 losses in 21 video games, Showalter as an alternative turned his consideration towards an offense that mustered solely three hits.

“I’m not going to hold this on Smitty,” Showalter mentioned. “We should always be capable to create some extra margin for error for a man coming again.”