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Mets’ season over as bullpen fails Noah Syndergaard – Giants move on – Metro US
MLB

Mets’ season over as bullpen fails Noah Syndergaard – Giants move on

Jay Bruce walks off the field after striking out during the NL Wild Card Game against the San Francisco Giants. (Getty Images)

Noah Syndergaard pitched what may have been the best game of his career in the Mets’ most crucial game of the season Wednesday night, but New York’s bullpen let him down late, and now the Mets are going home for the winter.

Conor Gillaspie’s three-run homer to right off of Mets closer Jeurys Familia in the top of the ninth inning gave the Giants a 3-0 win in the do-or-die NL Wild Card game and San Francisco advances to face the Cubs in the NLDS.

Syndergaard had a no-hitter going until two outs in the sixth inning, but unbelievably he wasn’t the best pitcher at Citi Field Wednesday night. Giants starter Madison Bumgarner threw a complete game at the Mets as the New York offense was only able to muster four hits off of the 2014 World Series MVP. Bumgarner threw a whopping 120 pitches on the night, striking out six and walking just two.

Terry Collins lifted Syndergaard from the game after the seventh inning and things immediately got shaky for the Mets. Addison Reed gave up a single to Gillaspie, walked Brandon Belt and intentionally walked Buster Posey as the Giants loaded up the bases. Reed got out of it, striking out Hunter Pence to end the threat but it was a sign of issues to come for the Mets ’pen.

Brandon Crawford opened the ninth inning with a double that trickled to the wall, giving the Giants life against Familia. Familia struck out Angel Pagan, but then walked Joe Panik – setting up the crushing Gillaspie clout that ended the Mets’ 2016 season.

Syndergaard allowed just two hits in his seven innings of work, striking out 10 and walking just three on 108 pitches.