After an uninspiring start to the season, Ruben Tejada sparked the Mets twice yesterday in their comeback win.
Tejada entered the afternoon batting just .176 and having committed four errors at shortstop. But in the 4-3 triumph over the Marlins, he singled and scored the Mets’ first run, walked and stole a base and initiated the game-winning rally in the ninth by getting hit by a pitch and scoring the tying run.
Tejada also had a flawless game in the field.
“Rubie’s going to be fine defensively,” Daniel Murphy said. “He’s one of, if not our best, defensively.”
Tejada is batting only .211 (6-for-19), but has a .375 on-base percentage.
* The Mets’ bullpen was superb yesterday, tossing 4 2/3 scoreless innings of three-hit ball. Greg Burke (1 2/3 innings), Josh Edgin ( 1/3), Scott Atchison ( 2/3), LaTroy Hawkins (1) and Scott Rice (1) all fired blanks at the Marlins.
Rice, who spent 14 seasons in the minors before this year, earned his first major league win.
“This game was about that bullpen keeping us in the game,” manager Terry Collins said.
Both of the team’s left-handed relievers — Edgin and Rice — have appeared in four of the Mets’ first six games. Tonight, the Mets open a three-game series against the Phillies, who feature a host of lefty hitters in Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Domonic Brown and Ben Revere, as well as switch hitter Jimmy Rollins.
The question is whether both Edgin and Rice are physically capable of pitching twice apiece in the next three games now, too.
“We can go as many days in a row as they need us,” Rice said.
Added Edgin, “I think we’ll be just fine. Ready to go.”
* John Buck did not start at catcher yesterday for the first time this season, as backup Anthony Recker was behind the plate. Although top catching prospect Travis d’Arnaud figures to be with the Mets at some point this season (meaning Buck wouldn’t be playing as much), Collins said that will not prompt him to willingly use Buck even more now. Buck pinch hit in the eighth inning and struck out.