DENVER — Francisco Alvarez wanted to present the ball from the last out to a rookie umpire who had just worked his first game behind the plate Sunday, but there was a dissenting voice.
“I was like, ‘Hey, man, that is my first career save,’ ” Paul Blackburn said after the Mets’ 13-5 victory over the Rockies at Coors Field.
Blackburn received the ball.
He earned it, pitching four innings for the save after Tylor Megill was removed after five innings and 82 pitches.
Blackburn allowed three earned runs (two of them in the ninth when he said he was just trying to throw the ball over the plate with the Mets rolling) on seven hits and one walk.
Manager Carlos Mendoza said the plan from the start was to receive five innings from Megill, who was on regular rest following a start last Tuesday against the Dodgers in which he threw 105 pitches, and then let Blackburn go long.
That strategy would allow rest for an overtaxed bullpen.
“There was about a 99.9 percent chance I was in the game today,” said Blackburn, who hadn’t pitched in relief since 2023.
“That first inning I had the juices flowing a little bit. I felt like I was making my debut again, running out there.”
Blackburn returned from the injured last Monday and pitched five scoreless innings in a start against the Dodgers as part of a six-man rotation.
Mendoza reverted to a five-man rotation afterward, pushing Blackburn to the bullpen.
“It was huge for him to go out there, getting his first save, but just pretty much finishing the game,” Mendoza said. “That’s a huge role in the bullpen and he was able to get the job done today.”
Frankie Montas threw 76 pitches over 3 ²/₃ innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Syracuse.
The right-hander allowed three earned runs on three hits and four walks in a second straight subpar outing for Syracuse.
The right-hander, who is rehabbing from a lat strain, will receive at least one additional start in the minors before he’s considered for removal from the injured list.
The Mets have won eight straight games against the Rockies dating to last season.
It’s the Mets’ longest winning streak against Colorado since winning 11 straight in 2014-15.
