HOUSTON — Dillon Gee’s homecoming was a flop.
The rookie right-hander, a native of nearby Cleburne, Texas, had his worst start of the season last night, allowing four earned runs over five innings, but was let off the hook when the Mets rallied in the eighth and beat the Astros, 6-4, at Minute Maid Park.
Gee, who had numerous friends and family members in attendance, refused to use nerves as an excuse. Most troubling was the four walks he allowed, in addition to a hit batsman.
“I just feel off right now,” said Gee, who wasn’t happy with his start against the Dodgers last Saturday, when he allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings. “I’ve just felt bad the last two starts I’ve had.”
At least Gee doesn’t have to worry about losing his spot in the rotation. He has a job for the foreseeable future with Chris Young done for the season with a torn anterior capsule in his shoulder.
It could have been worse last night. Gee loaded the bases in the second and third innings, but escaped only trailing 1-0. His night unraveled in the sixth, when Carlos Lee singled leading off, Gee hit Brett Wallace with a pitch and Chris Johnson stroked an RBI double. Two more runs later scored that were charged to Gee.
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Bobby Parnell‘s return to the Mets won’t come this weekend, as team brass originally had considered. Parnell, recovering from a circulatory problem in his right middle finger, will remain at Triple-A Buffalo, and will be asked to pitch on consecutive days, entering during an inning both times.
On Thursday, Parnell flunked a test. He entered in the eighth and surrendered a three-run homer to Jesus Montero of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the Yankees’ Triple-A team. Parnell worked 1 1/3 innings and struck out three batters.
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Collins was back in town for the first time since 1996, when he completed a three-year stint as Astros manager. Collins managed the Astros to three straight second-place finishes.
“There is really nothing the same,” Collins said. “The uniforms have changed, the ballpark has changed, there is really nothing similar to when I was here, but I certainly followed them over the years.”
Ask Collins about his Houston tenure, and he invariably mentions the opportunity he received to manage Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio.
“We had real good teams and had real good players,” Collins said. “I watched two guys on a daily basis who are going to end up in the Hall of Fame, so it’s pretty nice.”
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With Davis sidelined, Collins wants Daniel Murphy‘s bat down further in the order to offer protection for Jason Bay. Murphy was moved to sixth, and Josh Thole to second. It was Thole’s fourth start in the No. 2 hole. . . . Ronny Paulino will be in today’s lineup against lefty J.A. Happ. Paulino will be catching R.A. Dickey‘s knuckleball for the second time.