Adrian Houser may have saved a Mets career that appeared to be teetering on the brink of a release.
A day after the beleaguered Houser was informed he was returning to the bullpen to clear space for David Peterson in the rotation, the right-hander was a big reason the Mets had a chance for a comeback win Sunday.
Houser allowed one earned run over four innings in relief in the Mets’ 4-3 victory over the Giants at Citi Field.
“We needed that and he needed that,” manager Carlos Mendoza said.
Trevor Williams in 2022 was the last Mets pitcher to throw at least four innings in relief and earn a victory. Houser had last pitched on Tuesday, as a starter in Cleveland, allowing six earned runs over five innings. Houser completed that start with a 7.88 ERA for the season.
Sean Manaea lasted only five innings Sunday and allowed two earned runs. Houser entered in the sixth and allowed a run — Harrison Bader’s leaping catch at the center-field fence on Matt Chapman’s shot leading off the inning against him provided a boost.
But the Giants went quietly against Houser over the final three innings.
“Today I wanted to go out and try to eat up as many innings as possible and keep the score as close as possible,” Houser said.
Peterson will pitch Wednesday as part of a six-man rotation that also includes Manaea, Luis Severino, Jose Quintana, Tylor Megill and Christian Scott.
“I want to help out this team as much as I can,” Houser said. “I still think I’m a starter, but … I want to go out there and get outs and win ballgames. At the end of the day it’s all about getting that ‘W.’ ”
The Mets tied the Orioles and Marlins for the MLB lead with a fifth walk-off victory this season. All five of those victories for the Mets have occurred in a series finale.
Drew Smith pitched a scoreless inning and struck out two in a rehab appearance for High-A Brooklyn.
Sunday’s announced sellout of 41,016 was spurred in part by a Hello Kitty light-up bow bobblehead giveaway. It was the Mets’ first sellout since Opening Day.
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