ATLANTA — Dillon Gee arrived to Turner Field yesterday wearing backup catcher Mike Nickeas’ suit and then borrowed Bobby Parnell’s glove and Josh Thole’s spikes. About the only thing Gee could call his own was his performance against the Braves.
With the Mets desperately needing a win, the rookie Gee arrived from Triple-A Buffalo to pitch 5 2/3 strong innings in the team’s 3-2 victory that snapped a seven-game losing streak.
Gee, who got the win, didn’t arrive in town until 1 a.m. yesterday after incurring airport delays in Providence and Philadelphia. To Gee’s dismay, his luggage got lost in the process. The Mets had informed Gee at about noon on Saturday he would be replacing Chris Young in the rotation — the veteran was placed on the disabled list with biceps tendinitis.
“You’ve just got to roll with it and do the best you can with what you’re given,” said Gee, who asked around the clubhouse to borrow equipment. “It’s the same game out there no matter what glove you’re using.”
Gee went 2-2 with a 2.18 ERA in five September starts last season, giving the Mets a good idea what they could expect yesterday. He allowed one earned run, on Freddie Freeman’s RBI single in the second, and struck out four with two walks. His day was complete after walking Eric Hinske in the sixth inning, bringing the go-ahead run to the plate.
Manager Terry Collins said Gee will make at least one more start before Young is eligible to return from the DL on April 26. Collins was not surprised by what he saw from Gee yesterday.
“I saw him all summer long [in the minors] and what I saw today was what I saw all summer,” Collins said. “I saw a guy who commands all his pitches and changes speeds. He can throw any pitch at any count. He made really big pitches today in certain situations.”
Gee said he tried to block out the fact the Mets were mired in a losing streak.
“Every win is important — it’s a long season,” he said. “Just to be able to come up and try to do my part, it’s nice.”