Jose Butto provided a finger in the dam for the Mets on Tuesday night — until he could hold it no more.
Butto, recalled from Triple-A Syracuse earlier in the day to replace optioned reliever Tyson Miller, ate up eight outs in relief of starting pitcher David Patterson, before he was charged with three of the Pirates’ six runs — and the loss — in the seventh inning of the Mets’ 7-4 defeat.
Manager Buck Showalter came away impressed with Butto, who had a 5.96 ERA in 17 starts this season at Triple-A.
The hard-throwing righty struck out five over 2 ²/₃ innings, but he also walked three.
He retired the first five batters he faced, then allowed five of the next eight to reach base and left with the score tied and the bases loaded in the seventh.
“[The loss] really kind of overshadowed what a great outing Butto had. That was really impressive,” Showalter said. “He was the reason we were still in that game, which was kind of unfair.”
Francisco Lindor had reached the milestone twice before in his career, but he became the first shortstop in Mets history to record at least 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in the same season during their win Monday over the Pirates.
The four-time All-Star is the first Met at any position to accomplish the feat since Carlos Beltran did it in 2008.
“It’s really cool whenever I get to be next to one of my role models growing up, someone I try to be like,” Lindor said of Beltran, a fellow Puerto Rico native. “It’s special for sure. I’m blessed to be in this position.”
Lindor, who has 22 home runs, went 1-for-4 Tuesday.
He notched his 20th stolen base in the fifth inning Monday, but said he didn’t know he’d notched No. 20 until teammate Daniel Vogelbach informed him after the game.
“That’s pretty good company,” Showalter said, referring to Beltran. “You have to step back and go through rosters for [15] years, and it will get your attention. It’s another very quiet milestone Lindor reaches to remind us all what a splendid player he is.”
Outfielder Abraham Almonte was outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse after he had been designated for assignment on Saturday.
Rehabbing closer Edwin Diaz (knee) handed out bobbleheads of himself to fans before the game. … David Wright will be at Citi Field on Thursday for the rescheduled charity baseball game between the NYPD and the FDNY.
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