ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Adam Ottavino has been as untouchable as any pitcher in baseball.
He proved “human,” as Mets manager Carlos Mendoza put it, at a poorly timed moment.
Ottavino allowed his first hit and first run since April 4, which allowed the Rays to escape with a 3-1 win at Tropicana Field on Saturday, when Christian Scott’s brilliant debut was spoiled.
The 38-year-old Ottavino took the mound in the eighth inning of a tie game having been the most reliable pitcher on the club and arguably in the league.
In his previous nine games, a span that began all the way back on April 5, he had pitched 9 ²/₃ innings of no-hit, no-run, two-walk ball with 17 strikeouts.
And his first batter, Jose Siri, struck out on three pitches.
But Yandy Diaz’s single into center ended Ottavino’s streak and began a headache of an inning.
Ottavino walked Richie Palacios — “inexcusable,” Ottavino said of the base on balls — and Isaac Paredes reached on an infield single that was chopped over Ottavino’s head to load the bases.
Francisco Lindor saved Ottavino for one batter: Randy Arozarena’s ground ball cleared a shifted-in Brett Baty, but Lindor backhanded the ball at the back of the dirt and launched a fadeaway throw home to get the runner at home for the second out.
“Unbelievable,” said Ottavino, who couldn’t escape the inning.
He fought with Austin Shenton for nine tense pitches, the last one a sweeper that missed low for a bases-loaded walk that allowed the go-ahead run to score.
“Battled hard,” said Ottavino, who is sporting a 0.81 WHIP. “But just didn’t make the last pitch.”
After several injuries and several roster moves, the Mets’ bullpen is down to a single lefty.
Jake Diekman is the sole southpaw with Brooks Raley and Triple-A option Nate Lavender hurt and Danny Young optioned Saturday.
Righty Dedniel Nunez, who combined with Young to throw 4 ¹/₃, one-run innings Friday, also was demoted to allow the Mets a fresh arm in the form of righty Cole Sulser.
Sulser is one of six righties in the pen, a fact that Mendoza said is not a concern.
“We got righties who can get lefties out,” Mendoza said.
Kodai Senga (right shoulder capsule strain) was expected to throw a live batting practice for a second time at Citi Field, Mendoza said.
Senga, whose first live session since the injury came Monday, was expected to throw what amounts to two innings.
Drew Smith (right shoulder soreness) is continuing to throw, Mendoza said. The hope remains that Smith will be able to be activated from the 15-day IL when eligible next week.
David Peterson, who threw three scoreless innings with Low-A St. Lucie Friday, came through well, Mendoza said. Peterson is recovering from offseason hip surgery and will be eligible to return May 27.