Mets reliever Paul Blackburn, who struggled Friday, will start next for injured Kodai Senga
NEW YORK — Paul Blackburn sat helplessly on the top of the bench in the Mets dugout after allowing a pair of Rays runs to score and only recording one out in the top of the sixth.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza had called upon Blackburn with the Mets holding a four-run lead entering the frame, but the veteran righty, who was making his third appearance since returning from the injured list, had his roughest outing of the season.
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Blackburn gave up four earned runs on four hits and Max Kranick allowed a pair of runs on a two-run home run as the Mets saw a four-run lead evaporate in the sixth inning of a 7-5 loss to the Rays in front of 41,622 fans on Friday night at Citi Field.
"It's been tough," Blackburn said of getting reacclimated to a bullpen role. "It's completely different routines, I just haven't found a routine for the bullpen. It's a lot of trial and error when you go there. I haven't really been down there a long time, so I think it's just a lot of trial and error."
With one miserable frame, the Mets saw their six-game win streak snapped by the Rays as their record moved to 45-25.
The Mets offense stormed out of the gate with five runs between the fourth and fifth innings but could not cash in on some other big opportunities. They finished 2-for-16 with runners in scoring position on the night.
Paul Blackburn, Max Kranick struggle
Tampa Bay Rays catcher Danny Jansen (19) celebrates with center fielder Kameron Misner (26) after hitting a two run home run during the sixth inning against the New York Mets on June 13, 2025, at Citi Field.
Before the game, Mendoza announced that Blackburn would draw Wednesday's start against the Braves following Kodai Senga's right hamstring injury, which was deemed a Grade 1 strain.
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Blackburn had not pitched since a four-inning, 71-pitch relief appearance on June 8, and Mendoza wanted to make sure he saw some game action before the start.
But it did not go as planned.
Blackburn entered for Clay Holmes after five innings but gave up a trio of hard-hit singles, including a two-run single to Jake Magnum, and an infield single to Yandy Diaz. He exited with a pair of runners stationed on the corners and both would come across to score against Max Kranick.
"I feel like, especially the secondary pitches on Blackburn, everything was up in the zone," Mendoza said. "The changeup was kind of flat today. The sinker didn't have much movement. I think, overall, he left a lot of pitches up in the zone."
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Blackburn, who tossed a scoreless five innings in his lone start of the season against the Dodgers on June 2, will now have another opportunity to take the ball in the first inning. He has allowed seven earned runs in 4⅓ relief innings.
Kranick, who was called up from Triple-A Syracuse in a corresponding move with Senga placed on the IL, gave up an RBI single to Kameron Misner and then a two-run home run to Danny Jansen on a hanging slider that moved the Rays ahead 7-5 in the top of the sixth inning. Kranicks sustained his second loss of the season.
Mets cautious with Clay Holmes after Colorado
New York Mets starting pitcher Clay Holmes (35) delivers a pitch during the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays on June 13, 2025, at Citi Field.
Mendoza's move to take Holmes out of the game after five innings was initially curious.
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In five innings, Clay Holmes only gave up one run on a solo home run to Jonathan Aranda. He exited after throwing 79 pitches - his second-fewest in a start this season - and allowing three hits and two walks.
The Mets intended on keeping Holmes' pitch count under 85 after his latest six-inning outing in the physically taxing thin air of Denver. Holmes said he was probably a little more sore than usual after tossing 95 pitches to pick up his seventh win after allowing one earned run.
"As a competitor, you always want to be out there but you trust that they're making the right decisions," Holmes said. "I think the thought process was really good and they've done a lot of things right so far this year, so just trysting that. I think coming out of this, it's going to give me a boost going forward."
Holmes said his arsenal did not feel as crisp as usual but feels like he's in a good spot to build on the start. He labored through a 23-pitch fourth inning, which included the home run and a walk to Taylor Wells before back-to-back strikeouts to Jake Mangum and Jose Caballero, and drove his pitch count up.
Starling Marte's spark snuffed out
New York Mets designated hitter Starling Marte (6) reacts after an RBI single during the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays on June 13, 2025, at Citi Field.
The appearance of Starling Marte in the Mets' lineup could have been questioned by some against the right-handed Taj Bradley.
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Mendoza elected to give Brett Baty an off day, plugging in the switch-hitting Ronny Mauricio, who was out of the lineup on Thursday, at third base and opening up a DH day for Marte.
That move paid off for Marte, who came through twice with the bases loaded for the Mets. Marte knocked an RBI single off the foot of Bradley in the fourth inning and then lined a two-run single through the left side off former Mets reliever Eric Orze to build the Mets' lead to 5-1 in the sixth.
Marte's three RBI were a season high as he finished 3-for-5.
"Really good at-bats against right-handed pitching - three bullets," Mendoza said. "... I feel like offensively, he's in a really good place right now. "
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But the Mets could not come through after their lead was relinquished
Marte came up with a pair of runners in scoring position in the seventh but struck out on a changeup. The Mets later loaded the bases in the inning but Mauricio flew out to left field.The Mets missed another opportunity in the top of the eighth inning as Francisco Alvarez drove a ball deep to right-center field that was dropped by Misner. But Francisco Lindor and Brandon Nimmo struck out in back-to-back at-bats and Juan Soto lined out to right field. The Mets had runners on the corners with one out in the ninth against Rays closer Pete Fairbanks, but Baty grounded out and Mauricio struck out looking.
"Baty hit it right at the third baseman and then they executed against Mauricio in the ninth inning," Mendoza said. "Three breaking balls were pretty nasty against a good closer."
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Paul Blackburn, who struggled vs Rays, gets Mets' next start for injured Kodai Senga
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