MLB

Mets’ K-Rod faces assault rap after pen snub, ugly loss

The Mets are finding new ways to embarrass themselves now — both on the field and off.

After the team blew yet another late lead last night in a 6-2 loss to the Rockies at Citi Field, Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez was arrested and charged with third-degree assault after allegedly being involved in a physical altercation with his father-in-law outside the Mets clubhouse.

The blowup came just minutes after the Mets’ bullpen cost the team another game in the eighth inning, and Jerry Manuel opted not to use Rodriguez for a four-out save, going with Manny Acosta instead.

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The decision proved disastrous, as Manuel’s streak of having bullpen decisions blow up in his face continued when Acosta gave up a two-out grand slam to Melvin Mora that gave Colorado the lead.

When approached by reporters after the game, Rodriguez erupted: “Did I [bleeping] pitch? Why should I talk to you guys?”

Rodriguez’s agent, Paul Kinzer, had no comment.

Manuel defended his decision, which elicited chants of “Fire Jerry” among the Mets’ faithful.

“Usually, when we have K-Rod the night before, we don’t expect to get four or five outs the next night,” said Manuel, who added that he didn’t think it was worth it to alter that philosophy even though the Mets are desperate for wins. They still are in search of consecutive victories for the first time since June 22-23.

“They are big games, no doubt about it,” Manuel said. “If we can’t try to get that one out we’ll probably lose him the next 10-15 days. We’ve gotta find a way to get that out.”

Now they may lose the closer for longer than that, as Rodriguez’s emotions boiled over again. He had a confrontation earlier this season with bullpen coach Randy Niemann.

But Rodriguez is just one of many problems the Mets have, which are mounting almost too fast to count: The bullpen is a mess, as was proven again last night and the offense has descended back into one of its seemingly never-ending funks.

After Angel Pagan’s first-inning, two-run homer off Colorado starter Jeff Francis, the Mets got just one hit the rest of the game. And though Jon Niese made those runs hold up initially, it wasn’t enough to overcome the leaky pen.

Niese lasted seven innings, giving up just one run, before Manuel pulled him in favor of Hisanori Takahashi, who got two quick outs before surrendering a hit and a walk. Then Manuel summoned Acosta.

“With the way we are offense is, it allows us no mistakes,” Manuel said. “Either by the pitchers, the defense or even by me as far as strategy. There’s no margin for error so we have to be exact in everything we do.”

David Wright wasn’t immune to the fans’ wrath, striking out four times as his slump continued.

“It’s not fun,” Wright said. “It’s been a rough couple of weeks and it’s tough when we keep making our pitchers hold one-run leads. It doesn’t work.”

Last night, just about nothing worked for the Mets and what appeared to be just another bad loss in what is fast becoming a lost season, became something even worse.