A night of Matchup Madness cost the Mets dearly.
Terry Collins got matchup crazy Wednesday night, trying to pull too many rabbits out of his managerial hat as the Mets suffered one of their most frustrating losses of the season and a chance to gain ground in the inept wild-card race.
If the Mets don’t make the postseason, they will look back at this three-game sweep by the lowly Braves and particularly this 4-3 heartbreaking defeat.
And still, despite all the decisions blowing up in their face, the Mets had the chance to pull this one out when Yoenis Cespedes sent a rocket that was headed over the wall in right-center for a game-winning, three-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, only to be pulled back by Braves center fielder Ender Inciarte with a stunning catch that made 32,187 Citi Field fans groan.
This game turned in the eighth inning.
With the Mets leading 3-2, it started with an error by first baseman James Loney, allowing Inciarte to reach first against Addison Reed after the right-hander got the final out of the seventh. Following a fly out, Collins opted to go to lefty Josh Smoker instead of staying with the veteran Reed, who has been tremendous, to face lefty Freddie Freeman.
When Reed saw Collins heading to the mound, he flipped the ball high in the air and caught it. After the game, as soon as reporters entered the clubhouse, Reed was on his way out.
Asked by The Post to stop, Reed kept marching, saying, “Gotta go.’’
Freeman lifted a single to center. With runners on first and second, it was the end of Smoker’s quick night and on came closer Jeurys Familia for what would have been a five-out save. With Matt Kemp up, a double steal put runners on second and third. The Mets continued to have Familia go after Kemp, who lifted a sacrifice fly to left and the game was tied.
Collins defended his move.
“As much as I’ve used [Reed] lately, I can’t let Freddie face him,’’ he said. “He’s too hot. Face the power lefty. [Freeman] got the s— jammed out of him and blooped it in.’’
The Mets led 3-0 on a two-run home run by Asdrubal Cabrera and a solo blast by Rene Rivera, but ex-Met Anthony Recker lined a two-run homer off Bartolo Colon in the seventh.
In the bottom of the eighth it was more matchups. Kelly Johnson, Collins’ best bench bat, was announced as a pinch hitter but never came to bat because of a pitching change and was replaced by Eric Campbell. The Mets had second and third after a Cespedes double and stolen base, but T.J. Rivera struck out, Campbell was walked to load the bases and then pinch-hitter Kevin Plawecki struck out.
Frustration after frustration.
As for taking out Johnson, Collins countered, “With that same guy [lefty Ian Krol] we got two hits off him [Tuesday night] with the same two guys we ran out there.’’
Actually, Plawecki reached on an error Tuesday night.
The Mets were down to their last out in the ninth, and just like Tuesday night, Cespedes came to the plate, this time with runners on first and second. He drove Jim Johnson’s 0-1 pitch to right-center. Inciarte took off, jumping and reaching over the fence to make a spectacular catch.
Collins called it one “of the best catches you’ll ever see.’’
Said Inciarte: “It was pretty cool. I went a long ways to get that ball, and after I caught it to win a ballgame, it feels pretty good. I thought that ball was gone right off the bat, but it’s the last play of the game, I was just giving everything I’ve got.
“This is probably the best catch I’ve ever made.’’
A frustrated Cespedes agreed to answer one question, saying, “I knew I hit the ball well. I knew there was a good chance it was going to make it out, but he made a better play.’’
With that, a night of Matchup Madness came to an end.