Mets' Craig Kimbrel on allowing go-ahead grand slam, what went wrong vs. Rockies

With the Mets and Colorado Rockies tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the eighth inning on Thursday, manager Carlos Mendoza turned to veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel to keep the score intact.

However, things went sideways, fast.

Kimbrel let up back-to-back singles and then walked Willi Castro to load the bases with no one out. New York was out of challenges so Kimbrel or Francisco Alvarez couldn't challenge what was called ball four on a full count, as the pitch looked to clip the top of the zone. After that, Kimbrel allowed a grand slam to Jake McCarthy down the right field line as the Rockies took a 6-2 lead.

Mendoza and Kimbrel both thought reviews would reverse the call as the ball appeared to land in foul territory beyond the RF pole, but the call stood. Kimbrel said he was "hoping it was foul," but took the blame for missing on a couple of pitches that cost the team.

"On the home run pitch, it was just location. I was trying to go up and I yanked it down," Kimbrel said. "It really all started with the leadoff guy. I got ahead of him, tried to bury a breaking ball, left it up, gave him an opportunity to put it in play and got a hit. And then the hit-and-run.

"Just really, right there with first and third was trying to get a strikeout. Felt like I did, they didn't feel like he went on the check swing Then it turned into a walk, which turned into a grand slam."

Mendoza was asked about the decision to go to Kimbrel, noting was unavailable, and explained what he saw from the veteran right-hander.