MLB

Mets need more from new closer

Yes, the Mets, as maddening and crazy as the ending was, ultimately snapped their three-game losing streak with a 5-4 victory over the Giants yesterday at Citi Field.

For that, manager Terry Collins will not apologize.

“At this level you’re going to escape death sometimes and sometimes you’re going to get shot,” he said. “[Saturday], fortunately, we escaped it.”

Still, the Mets manager knows he has a problem brewing that must be rectified as soon as possible or improbable outcomes like they experienced yesterday won’t continue in their favor.

METS BOX SCORE

For the second straight game, closer Frank Francisco failed to do his job. He blew a three-run lead in the ninth inning, though all the damage wasn’t technically his fault. A pop fly to short center field by Brandon Belt — after Francisco had been removed from the game — should have been the final out and gave the Mets a 4-2 win. But rookie Kirk Nieuwenhuis overran the ball, allowing it to fall to the turf behind him.

The blunder allowed two runs to score and tie the game, forcing the Mets to win it in their half of the ninth as the Giants authored their own version of the Keystone Kops.

But Francisco had long since been pulled by Collins after allowing three of the four batters he faced in the ninth to reach base. The manager couldn’t take anymore after watching his closer allow a run-scoring single among two hits and a walk. Collins ended Francisco’s chance at a rare save opportunity by pulling him in favor of lefty Tim Byrdak.

“It was surprising,” Francisco said of Collins’ decision. “But he’s the boss. I guess he made the right choice because we won.”

Byrdak struck out the only batter he faced for the second out, and Jon Rauch seemed to have ended the game until Nieuwenhuis overran Belt’s shallow fly ball. The Mets avoided a disastrous outcome by winning the game in their half of the ninth, but figuring out what, if anything, is wrong with Francisco, remains a priority. Teams with as little margin for error as the Mets have can’t afford a closer that can’t get the job done in tight games.

“I’m going to talk to Frankie [today],” Collins said. “I don’t like to do too much after the game is over. He’s not happy with what happened.”

Collins suspects there might be something physically or mentally wrong.

“There could be,” the manager said. “I don’t know what it is. But I want him to understand that’s why he’s here. When he gets out there, go get ’em with his best stuff.”

Francisco said his stuff “was off” yesterday. But he didn’t seem concerned and pointed to Collins’ lack of familiarity with him as a reason for the lack of faith.

“I think I know how to make adjustments,” Francisco said. “He probably doesn’t know me, but it’s part of the game.”

Francisco’s implosion yesterday came less than 24 hours after he allowed the winning run and walked two batters in the 10th inning of the Giants’ 4-3 victory Friday night. His ERA is now 8.53.

“Things are not going my way right now,” Francisco said. “But I have to keep fighting.”

Collins thinks a lack of work has hurt his closer, who has pitched 6 1/3 innings in seven appearances, with three saves.

“I know Frankie is going to be fine,” Collins said. “It’s early in the season and he’s pitched so well. Inconsistency is [because] he hasn’t gotten out there three games a week to feel comfortable. I’m sure that has a lot to do with it.”

Whatever is wrong with Francisco has to get fixed. Escaping death can get old in a hurry.