SHUTTING THE DOOR: Johan Santana receives a hug from manager Terry Collins after pitching a shutout in yesterday’s 9-0 win over the Padres at Citi Field. (
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Johan Santana knew this was coming.
“He told [Mets pitching coach Dan Warthen] two weeks ago, ‘It’s getting to June. I’m going be a different guy in June,’ ” manager Terry Collins said yesterday. “Pretty close.”
The Mets will no doubt sign up for late May instead. Santana was different yesterday — the comeback lefty was brilliant, taking the Citi Field mound and delivering the best start of the Mets’ season and one of the most impressive of his stellar career.
Santana fired a complete-game, four-hit shutout in the Mets’ 9-0 romp over the Padres, needing just 96 pitches and reaching 91 mph in dominating San Diego. He retired 16 straight at one point, struck out nine and faced just three batters above the minimum.
His control was staggering — Santana threw only 22 balls the entire afternoon, not walking a batter and never going to a single three-ball count. During one stretch, he threw 51 of 61 pitches for strikes. In his final five innings, Santana needed just nine pitches to get through each inning. He had six nine-pitch innings overall and did not throw more than 17 pitches in any frame.
Santana missed the end of the 2010 season and the entire 2011 campaign because of a torn anterior capsule in his shoulder. But he has not returned to be a mere decent middle-to-back-end starter in the Mets’ rotation. At this point, he may once again be an ace. Santana is just 2-2 on the year, but his ERA is 2.75, and in his 10 starts he has surrendered more than three runs only twice.
“I think he is back,” Mets outfieler Scott Hairston said, “and he’s proven that.”
Yesterday was Santana’s highest moment since his return, his first shutout since Aug. 12, 2010. It was the ninth of his career.
“I feel great,” he said.
Added Collins, “Just because he doesn’t have the 96-mph fastball anymore doesn’t mean he can’t still be an ace.”
The Mets need Santana to be healthy and successful — including this year, he is owed $55 million through 2013. The Padres have one of the NL’s worst offenses, but this outing still could have been a declaration by Santana, letting the world know he can still dominate.
“I don’t do anything to show anybody,” he insisted. “When I’m healthy, I know what I can do.”
Santana’s season is mirroring Carlos Beltran’s last year. Beltran missed half of 2009 and most of 2010 and there were serious questions if the outfielder could stay healthy in 2011. But Beltran returned as an All-Star, and the 33-year-old Santana could be headed to the Mid-Summer Classic as well.
“I want to be healthy,” Santana said when asked of his goals this season. “Simple as that.”
Collins said Santana’s “right side was bothering him,” but the pitcher downplayed it. Santana took the mound in the ninth inning having thrown 87 pitches, set to try for the complete game with Collins willing to let him reach 105-110.
Santana allowed a leadoff infield single, but induced Chris Denorfia to hit into a double play, clapping his hands after. He then got Yonder Alonso to hit a chopper that he fielded himself, tagging Alonso and slapping an appropriate exclamation point on a day he announced he was back for real.
mark.hale@nypost.com