Here’s another sign of how bad a season it’s been for the Mets: Francisco Rodriguez became the first pitcher since Lee Smith in 1995 to allow two game-ending grand slams in the same season.
Justin Maxwell’s two-out homer capped a five-run ninth inning off the All-Star closer and gave Washington a 7-4 victory Wednesday night – ending the Nationals’ 150-game streak of losses when trailing after eight innings.
On Aug. 7 at San Diego, Everth Cabrera finished a five-run ninth inning with a grand slam against K-Rod in the Padres’ 6-2 win.
Smith, pitching for the Angels in 1995, allowed grand slams to Oakland’s Mark McGwire in an 8-5 loss on June 30 and to Cleveland’s Albert Belle in a 7-5 defeat on July 18, STATS LLC said Thursday.
Rodriguez has blown seven of 41 save chances with the Mets this season after saving a record 62 games in 69 opportunities with the Angels last year.
“Really, really frustrating,” Rodriguez said Wednesday night. “All the work you put in all year, you throw away pretty much on one pitch.”