Grit Index: D-backs’ bullpen blows late leads, Mets win in 13

The second half of the 2013 season began Monday night much the same way most of the first half played out for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Well, almost.

There was an early lead, a blown save, a starter failing to get a win and a walk-off. Only on this night at Citi Field, the D-backs were on the wrong end of the dramatic finish.

Left-hander Wade Miley was fantastic in 5 2/3 innings of work against the New York Mets, striking out seven while allowing zero runs. But Miley, like the previous 22 D-backs pitchers to start a game, didn’t factor into the left side of the win-loss column, as the bullpen eventually let him down.

Brad Ziegler gave up a run in the seventh. David Hernandez surrendered one in the eighth. And, J.J. Putz — pitching in a save situation for the first time since May 7 — couldn’t make the most of a blown home run call and allowed a game-tying single in the ninth to Josh Satin.

After Cody Ross put Arizona ahead with a solo shot in the top of the 13th, reliever Josh Collmenter tried to finish off the bottom half for his fifth extra-inning win of the season.

In the end, though, it didn’t play out like the first 81 games.

Collmenter gave up a double to Satin, intentionally walked John Buck and Omar Quintanilla, and with two outs left an 0-2 pitch up over the heart of the plate that Andrew Brown sent into the left centerfield gap for a walk-off, two-run single, as the Mets downed the D-backs 5-4.

The Good:

In addition to Miley’s strong start, Paul Goldschmidt hit his 20th home run on the season. The D-backs first baseman had exactly 20 dingers in 2012.

The Bad

Arizona has now blown 16 games in 2013, tied for the most in all of baseball with the Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs.

In 2 1/3 innings during the D-backs’ current 10-game road trip, David Hernandez has given up five runs.

The D-backs have lost four straight and are 1-6 on their current NL East road swing.

He Said It:

“I had him where I wanted him at 0-2, who knows with a better pitch we probably win the game.” — D-backs reliever Josh Collmenter on his final pitch of the night to Andrew Brown

Noted:

• Arizona’s last extra-inning loss came on May 21 against the Colorado Rockies.

• According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Mets’ walk-off win was their first in a game that they were trailing in during the 13th inning or later since 1963.

• Gerardo Parra left the game in the eighth inning when he face planted on the warning track after attempting to catch a ball off the bat of Omar Quintanilla. He later tweeted that he was fine.

• The D-backs moved to 9-3 this season in extra-inning games.

• Both teams honored the 19 firefighters who lost their lives in the Yarnell wildfire Sunday night, by hanging a No. 19 jersey in their dugout with the name Yarnell on the back. The D-backs also wore black arm bands on the right sleeve of their jerseys.

What’s Next:

The D-backs and Mets will continue their four-game series on Tuesday. Arizona left-hander Patrick Corbin (9-0, 2.22 ERA) will again go for his 10th win. He will be opposed by New York right-hander Jeremy Hefner (2-6, 3.72 ERA). First pitch is at 4:10 p.m. MST and can be heard on Arizona Sports 620.