Braves Bettors Get Some Air Chuck With Their Ground Chuck in Memorable Walk-off

The Highlights

• The Braves (-105) trailed the Mets 2-0 after six innings
• Atlanta got one back in the seventh off Jacob deGrom, but he shut the door on the rally
• After the Mets pen blew the save in the eighth inning, they took the lead on a Devin Mesoraco home run in the top half of the ninth.
• But the Mets pen would strike again, giving the Braves a 4-3 win on a Charlie Culberson walk-off bomb to center

As a Mets fan, I can't really feign shock as I write this.

Alas, the New York Metropolitans endured another bad beat — off the strength (or lack thereof) of their bullpen. This time, they would blow two saves (in the eighth and ninth innings) en route to their fourth consecutive loss.

After Mets backers narrowly escaped a threatening seventh inning — thanks to a vintage Jacob deGrom Houdini-act — they could see the light at the end of the tunnel. But as skipper Mickey Callaway handed the ball over to Seth Lugo in the eighth, that light at the end of the tunnel quickly disappeared into the deep, dismal, abyss of darkness, which IS the Mets bullpen.

And Lugo would waste no time ruining the Mets' Memorial Day festivities. After giving up hits to the first two batters he faced — Ozzie Albies and Freddie Freeman — Lugo surrendered the tying run on a Nick Markakis sac fly. However, he did limit the damage by recording back-to-back strikeouts to end the eighth.

With the game locked at 2 apiece, the Mets would RETAKE the lead — albeit VERY temporarily — after Devin Mesoraco blasted another ninth-inning home run (his second in two games). The Mets danced in the dugout. I did a little dance on my couch. And I'm sure all you poor saps with Mets moneyline tickets probably did a little happy dance of your own, too.

And in the midst of our premature victory dances, Callaway started to figure out how he could blow the game. With a runner on first and one out, Callaway opted NOT to pinch-hit for Lugo. I mean, why try to add insurance runs when you have an utter nigtmare of a bullpen like the Mets do?

Instead, he let his pitcher hit so he could come out for a second inning in the ninth — even though he had his closer available (though, I use that word liberally). Well, Lugo couldn't even get a bunt down, striking out in the process. And the Mets didn't add to their 3-2 lead.

I'm sure you could already telegraph how this script would end. Out trots Lugo for the ninth inning. After walking Johan Camargo to lead off the inning, Lugo got Dansby Swanson to line out. But Lugo wouldn't last much longer on the mound, as he then gave up a walk-off two-run home run to Charlie f*ckin' Culberson.

Salt in the wound? If you need some?

Culberson had one home run over the last three seasons before that jack. It was also his third career walk-off bomb — not surprisingly the second against the Mets.

Only the Mets, man. Only the Mets.