Reed Garrett emphatically breaks out of funk to save Mets' exhausted bullpen
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The Mets had nowhere else to turn.
All things considered, they had to be content with Justin Hagenman and Austin Warren surviving a combined six innings while allowing five runs.
They received excellence from Huascar Brazobán in a three-strikeout seventh inning.
They could not signal for Ryne Stanek, who had pitched in back-to-back games; did not want to ask for a third straight day from Edwin Díaz; wanted to stay away from Brandon Waddell, who is expected to start Sunday; their remaining relievers consisted of the just-called-up Rico Garcia and Chris Devenski, the just-re-signed Richard Lovelady and a slumping — probably from overuse — Reed Garrett.
Reed Garrett pitches during the Mets-Yankees game on July 4, 2025.
Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
Carlos Mendoza opted for Garrett, who then ensured Mendoza would not have to use a fifth pitcher on the day.
Garrett — who had been lit up by the Brewers on Wednesday and who had allowed eight runs in his past 3 ¹/₃ innings — shook off the funk and the fatigue to somehow record the final six outs of the 6-5, Subway Series-opening Mets victory at Citi Field on Friday.
'I think we've shown a lot over the last month of just who we are as a team. I think if you back us into a corner, we're going to find our way out of it,' said Garrett, who was talking about the Mets but could have been talking about himself.
He lugged a right arm that has tied with Brazobán for the most appearances by a Mets pitcher this season and had burned 21 pitches in Wednesday's meltdown and entered in the eighth inning, minutes after Jeff McNeil's home run had given the Mets a one-run edge.
Garrett needed 14 pitches to survive Giancarlo Stanton, Jazz Chisholm Jr. (who singled), Paul Goldschmidt and Ben Rice, and returned to a dugout and a conversation he did not want to have with Mendoza.
'I was trying to walk away so he couldn't take me out of the game,' Garrett said with a smile.
Reed Garrett reacts during the Mets-Yankees game on July 4, 2025.
Robert Sabo for NY Post
Garrett told Mendoza he physically was fine and could keep going. His manager told him they would go one batter at a time.
'Give me everything you got,' Mendoza said of Garrett, who obliged.
The presence of Aaron Judge loomed throughout the ninth, the superstar set to hit if one Yankee could reach base against Garrett.
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Trent Grisham (who flew out), DJ LeMahieu (who was robbed by a tremendous diving stab and throw from McNeil) and Jasson Domínguez (ground out) could not.
As Domínguez's ground ball reached McNeil, Garrett took a few hops in anticipation.
When Pete Alonso caught the throw from McNeil, Garrett pumped his fist, which reflected 1) that the teams, too, care about the Subway Series and 2) that this meant a little bit more considering his recent stretch and a woefully thin bullpen around him.
'To get the last six, it was big for me,' Garrett said after his third save of the season and a 29-pitch outing that tied for his most in a game this year. 'A little subtle reminder to keep going, keep fighting.'
Asked what he would have done if Garrett could not return to the mound for the ninth, Mendoza laughed and offered, 'I'm glad I didn't have to make that decision.'
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