Converted starter Jose Butto has emerged as a game-changer for the Mets out of the bullpen as a multiple-inning weapon since returning from the minors earlier this month.
Butto and Dedniel Nunez, two pitchers who weren’t in the bullpen plans to start the season, continued to provide a lift for a beleaguered and injury-riddled bullpen.
They combined to record the final 14 outs of the Mets’ 7-3 victory Saturday over the Rockies at Citi Field — their fifth win in a row with one game remaining before the All-Star break.
“Unbelievable job,” Carlos Mendoza said afterward about the two relievers. “These guys both have been pretty impressive, pitching in different situations and now in some high-leverage situations. They continue to get the job done.
“It says a lot about our organization. … These guys will continue to get opportunities.”
Francisco Lindor deadpanned that he is “not impressed at all” by the emerging duo, instead saying he “knew what they were capable of doing” and now are getting the opportunity to prove it amid a series of bullpen injuries.
Lindor cracked a three-run homer for breathing room in the eighth inning for the surging Mets, who have posted a 25-10 record over their past 35 games to improve to 49-45 overall while taking over the second wild-card position in the National League.
“It feels good, and it feels like we all have a sense of urgency,” Lindor said. “We’re back in a good way, and we have to ride it out as long as we can and finish the first half as strong as we can.”
Rookie righty Christian Scott lasted 4 ¹/₃ innings in his third start since being recalled from Triple-A Syracuse for a second big-league stint this season.
He allowed three runs on seven hits with one walk and five strikeouts, including a two-run homer by Charlie Blackmon in the fifth to cut the Mets’ lead to 4-3.
Butto, who made seven big-league starts earlier this season, hasn’t allowed a run over 7 ²/₃ innings in four relief appearances since July 2, including a four-out save Wednesday against Washington.
He replaced Scott with two runners aboard in the inning — an unfamiliar spot for him — and escaped trouble by getting Elias Diaz to ground into a 3-6-1 double play.
Butto fanned five over the next two innings to maintain the one-run lead before allowing a single and a walk to open the eighth.
“That was a really good experience to come in with men on first and second,” Butto said. “The first thing I learned [about relieving] is we gotta be ready for anything. You have to be ready to help the team in any situation.”
Nunez replaced Butto and got Diaz to bounce into another double play; he now has stranded all 12 runners he has inherited this season.
After Brenton Doyle fouled out to end the inning, Nunez also worked a scoreless ninth for his first career save. He said “the best part about it” was that his 9-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter attended a Mets game for the first time.
“It’s something where it’s more than being blessed, more than grateful, more than excited,” Nunez said through a translator. “I’m really appreciative of the opportunity and I have to continue to go out there and attack the hitters and do my job.”
Season-long slumping Jeff McNeil provided a key two-run double in the second inning for a 4-0 Mets lead after they’d scored their first two runs on a throwing error by Rockies second baseman Brendan Rodgers.
Scott, who is still searching for his first major-league win after eight starts, was tagged for a solo shot by Jake Cave in the third to cut the lead to 4-1.
Scott could not complete the fifth after allowing the Blackmon blast, but Butto and Nunez carried the Mets home from there.
“It’s just their competitiveness. Every time Butto and Nunie get the rock, you know they’re gonna give everything they have,” said Scott, a teammate of those players in the minor leagues. “I thought Butto did an unbelievable job keeping them off-balance today, and Nunie came in and did what Nunie does. … They’re pitching their asses off and that’s great to see.”
