JUPITER, Fla.– Johan Santana’s control wasn’t great, but he still managed to salvage his afternoon.
The Mets ace allowed two runs in the first inning and then rebounded with four scoreless in his team’s 6-3 exhibition victory over the Cardinals yesterday. Santana walked three and allowed four hits, throwing 88 pitches over the five innings.
“It was just one of those days where things take a little longer,” Santana said. “That’s all it was.”
The Mets could use Santana to pitch on Saturday against the Marlins in an abbreviated start, but may use him in a minor league game instead. Either way, the lefty would be on track to start the season opener on April 5 at Citi Field, although manager Terry Collins still hasn’t made the announcement.
“Right now I feel fine,” said Santana, who has a 3.44 ERA in five starts this spring in his comeback from 2010 shoulder surgery. “But we have increased every outing with pitches and innings. Once the season starts it’s going to be about going as deep as you can into the game and then recovering for the next outing.”
The Mets will honor Gary Carter’s memory during a pregame ceremony on Opening Day. Carter’s wife, Sandy, and his three grown children and their families will be on the field for a moment of silence and then participate in the ceremonial first pitch.
Carter, a Hall of Fame catcher and key component of the Mets’ 1986 world championship team, died last month after battling brain cancer.
Santana spoke to Carlos Beltran yesterday and said the former Mets outfielder has finally paid up the $10,000 for Jon Niese’s nose job.
Niese had the procedure done last offseason, after Beltran offered to pay for the surgery to correct the shape of the pitcher’s nose. Niese said an abnormality was found in his sinus during pre-op and was repaired, allowing him to breathe better and have more efficient workouts.
Jason Bay is expected back in the lineup today after getting drilled in the left forearm by a Stephen Strasburg heater on Sunday. Bay wanted to take batting practice yesterday, but was told by Collins to take it slow.
Andres Torres (left calf) was expected to start jogging, perhaps moving him closer to Opening Day. … Scott Hairston (oblique) took batting practice and lefty reliever Garrett Olson said the left-hand contusion he received when he was hit by a batted ball Sunday is not serious and he expected to throw yesterday. … Tim Byrdak, who is recovering from surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his knee, hopes to pitch in a minor league game Friday.