The left-hander surrendered the most earned runs allowed by a reliever during an MLB game in more than half a decade.
The Atlanta Braves' starting rotation left more to be desired when manager Walt Weiss turned to the bullpen early on Monday in the team's 14-3 blowout loss to the NL East rival New York Mets.
Martín Pérez took the bulk of the workload for the Braves, striking out four batters and issuing a single walk. New York's bats were unfazed though as they easily tagged eight hits and three runs on the 35-year-old starter, including a two-run homer by Francisco Lindor in the third inning.
Ozzie Albies answered back for Atlanta in the fourth, tying the game 3-3 with a two-run blast of his own. However, it all went south as soon as Pérez was removed from the game after the fifth for reliever Connor Thomas who allowed 11 earned runs and 10 hits in just 2.2 innings of work.
Marcus Semien dealt the first blow with a two-run shot to left center in the sixth, reclaiming the lead which the Mets refused to let up.
Things grew uglier in the seventh when Tyrone Taylor pounced on a 90-mph sinker near the heart of the zone for a three-run shot to left field. Shortly thereafter, Semien scored on a sacrifice fly by Bo Bichette, putting the Mets ahead 9-3.
By the eighth, Thomas' inability to locate the zone ended any hope for a comeback when Jared Young scored on a bases-loaded walk and Taylor reached home on a sacrifice fly by A.J. Ewing.
Lindor then concluded the barrage with his second homer of the night--this time being a three-run blast to left field.
Thomas would then finally be pulled for Jorge Mateo who prevented further damage.
Even the SNY Mets' broadcast crew could not hide the pity they felt for the 28-year-old Thomas.
"I'm sorry, I think it's just criminal what we just witnessed," color analyst Keith Hernandez said.
Still, Weiss has had little choice this season with starters Spencer Strider and Spencer Schwellenbach still on the 60-day injured list.
Furthermore, relievers Robert Suárez, Joe Jiménez and Joey Wentz have yet to return as well. Suárez is on the 15-day injured list with an elbow issue, but could be back on the mound soon after recently playing catch at Truist Park per Harrison Smajovits of SI.com.
With inclement weather causing today's matchup to be postponed in favor of a split doubleheader on Wednesday, Atlanta's arms will be in for a much-needed breather.
