MLB

Mets rally falls short as Valverde blows up in Citi

Turns out Bartolo Colon’s bad back was the least of the Mets’ worries.

Struggling Curtis Granderson might get pulled from the cleanup slot. Slumping Jose Valverde has become a launching pad and could lose the closer role. And the Mets just can’t buy a win at home, all of it adding up to a 7-5 loss to Atlanta before 31,476 at Citi Field.

Those frustrated fans have gotten used to seeing their team get beat up at home. The Mets are 6-3 on the road, but fell to just 2-6 in Flushing. They rallied with two runs in the eighth and two more in the ninth off Braves closer Craig Kimbrel, only to see Travis d’Arnaud ground out against Jordan Walden with the bases loaded.

The Mets have a ton of problems, but Colon (1-3) wasn’t one. After allowing nine runs and four homers last Sunday in Anaheim and then complaining of a sore back, Colon pitched well, holding the Braves to three runs over seven innings. But he got victimized by Freddie Freeman, who had three hits — including a fluky play that scored two runs when they couldn’t challenge a clearly blown call.

In the third inning, television replays showed Freeman fouled a ball off his foot, and it dribbled down the third base line.

Colon, presuming it would be foul, eventually fielded it and his errant throw sailed wide and down the right field line to give the Braves a 2-1 lead they never gave up.

Manager Terry Collins came out to argue, but he wasn’t allowed to challenge as the rules only allow fair/foul challenges of balls behind the first and third base umpires, but not when the ball doesn’t leave the infield or was hit off the batter’s foot.

“I thought it was a foul ball. That’s why I didn’t run as quickly to grab it. I was waiting for the umpire to say that it was a foul ball,’’ Colon said. “I think that should be reviewable. We’re reviewing all the other plays: Why not that one?’’

Freeman’s RBI double in the fifth made it 3-1, and Daisuke Matsuzaka came on in relief and uncorked a run-scoring wild pitch to make it 4-1. Ervin Santana (2-0) held the Mets to just one run in seven innings, and the Amazin’s mounted no threat until they finally got into the Braves bullpen.

Chris Young and d’Arnaud hit eighth-inning RBI singles against David Carpenter, with Lucas Duda — handed the first base job with Friday’s trade of Ike Davis — driving Jason Heyward to the warning track in right and just missing a three-run shot.

“I thought it was a home run,’’ Collins said. “If nothing tells you how hard it is to hit home runs, that ball does.’’
D’Arnaud singled over second baseman Dan Uggla to get the Mets within a run, but Collins elected not to pinch-hit for Ruben Tejada and the struggling shortstop grounded out to strand the tying run at third.

Valverde came on for the ninth and — after his comical fielding error on Jordan Schafer — served up Justin Upton’s three-run blast to dead center. The closer has been hanging fastballs up and has allowed four homers in his last three appearances, with the Mets mulling pulling him from the closer role.

“I’m going to address that stuff [Sunday],’’ Collins said. “I always hate to do it right now, but we need to talk about it for sure.’’

In the ninth, Wright hit an RBI double, but Granderson (0-for-5) struck out to get booed lustily and see his average fall to .140. Young added an RBI single and Duda walked to load the bases, but d’Arnaud grounded out to Andrelton Simmons to end it.

“I’ve been told [Granderson] can swing and miss, but I also know that when he gets red hot he can carry a club,’’ Collins said. “We’ve got to get him red hot.’’