MLB

Offense spoils Gee’s solid return to Mets

It had been nine months since Dillon Gee climbed a major league mound and pitched in a game that counted.

The Mets starter’s first outing was positive in every category except the win/loss one.

Gee pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing one run on three hits with four strikeouts and three walks in a 2-1 loss to the Padres. He pitched well enough to win but the Mets’ bats went cold after scoring 19 runs in the first two games of the season. It was Gee’s first outing since a blood clot was discovered in his right shoulder last July, which required surgery on an artery.

“I put it behind me a long time ago, but it definitely feels nice to get out there and get back in the regular season and get back on a big-league mound,” Gee said. “It’s a turning point and hopefully I can keep building from there.”

The Mets need him to. With starters Johan Santana and Shaun Marcum sidelined by injuries, the Mets are relying on Gee to be a solid No. 3 starter behind Jon Niese and Matt Harvey. Gee did not allow a hit yesterday through the first three innings, despite struggling with his command.

“Nothing really felt that great, but getting that competitiveness back and figuring out how to keep people out when you’re not feeling good,” Gee said. “I think I did a good job of battling and just staying in there and making decent pitches when I had to. I was able to minimize the damage.”

The Padres broke through with a Mark Kotsay base hit in the fourth that was just out of the reach of Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada and fell into short left field. Kotsay later scored on a Jedd Gyorko double that gave San Diego a 1-0 lead.

Gee threw 93 pitches before being pulled in the seventh after hitting Cameron Maybin with a pitch.

“He pitched very well,” manager Terry Collins said. “He kept us in the ballgame, gave us a chance. I hope he puts the health issues behind him. His stuff’s good enoughHe showed today that when you make pitches, you’re going to get easy outs.”

Gee’s performance kept the string of strong starting pitching going for the Mets. The Amazin’s starters have now combined for a 1.35 ERA with 18 strikeouts through the first three games.

“We all feed off each other,” Gee said. “We take good pride in being a starter. We want to keep topping each other every time out. Obviously, I didn’t have 10 Ks and all that stuff, but as long as we do a good job keeping the team in the game every time out we should win a lot of ballgames especially the way we’ve been hitting.”