ON HIS GAME: Mets starter Jeremy Hefner gave up just one run in seven innings of last night’s 3-2 loss to the Nationals. (
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WASHINGTON — Jeremy Hefner was caught in the awkward position last night of feeling good about his own performance while feeling disappointed for his teammates, especially closer Bobby Parnell.
“It’s the game,” Hefner said minutes after Parnell blew a 2-1 lead Hefner had nursed for seven innings. “It’s the game. On every team some guy has to deal with this.”
Parnell, who is coming off a stellar May, had to deal with allowing two runs on three hits in the ninth, handing the Nationals a 3-2 win in the first game of a three-game series. It was the Mets’ fourth straight loss since their four-game sweep of the Yankees in the Subway Series.
Still, Hefner can smile after recording his third straight solid outing and staying in contention to remain in the rotation when Zack Wheeler is called up to the majors.
A solo home run by Nat shortstop Ian Desmond in the second inning was the lone run Hefner allowed among four hits and seven strikeouts. His biggest challenge came in the sixth when Washington loaded the bases with two outs before Hefner got Desmond to ground out to end the inning.
“He gave up the home run and just bounced back and worked hard and pitched very well,” Mets manager Terry Collins said of Hefner. “He had the tough sixth inning where he threw a lot of pitches. But he managed to come out and have a decent seventh inning and got us where we wanted [him] to.”
Hefner’s performance comes as rumors continue to swirl about when Wheeler will be called up to rescue the reeling Mets. Before the game, Collins tried to temper the expectations surrounding Wheeler’s impending arrival.
“I hope everybody understands if and when this guy comes, he’s not going to be the savior,” Collins said. “There’s a lot of pieces that have to work. One guy is not going to turn it around for us. It takes 25.”
That’s what a manager is supposed to say about a prospect. No need to make expectations any greater than they need to be.
But if the Mets are going to get where they want to go, Wheeler needs to be a savior, or pretty close to it. No, he won’t make the Mets a winner by himself. Matt Harvey is testament to that.
Harvey has been brilliant in his first full season in the majors, posting a spotless 5-0 record with a 2.17 ERA. But the Mets are 22-33. Last night, they got a quality start from Hefner and still lost.
Though there are reports Wheeler could be called up as early as the next homestand, Collins insisted yesterday he has “no idea” when the right-hander will join the Mets.
“Everybody is excited because he’s a prospect and you look down the road with that arm and that stuff, he could be a good pitcher for a long time,” Collins said. “But there’s a lot of adjustments that have to be made.”
At least Hefner has made it tough to be the odd man out when Wheeler arrives. He seemed to be the obvious choice when he was 0-3 over four starts that stretched from April into May. But he gave up two runs in six innings en route to a no decision against the Braves, then beat the Yankees on May 29 before his strong showing last night.
“I’ve been working hard,” Hefner said. “I’m proud of myself.”
The battle to stay in the rotation continues today when Dillon Gee (3-6, 5.68) gets
the ball against the Nationals right-hander Dan Haren (4-6, 5.09). Shaun Marcum (0-6, 5.71) follows tomorrow against Gio Gonzalez (3-3, 3.64) — who will replace previously scheduled starter Stephen Strasburg (lat strain).
Someone will have to go to make room for “the savior.” But don’t call Wheeler that.
george.willis@nypost.com