It took nearly two years, but Jenrry Mejia pitched in the majors for the Mets again Friday night.
Mejia, who missed most of last season following Tommy John surgery, threw two innings in the Mets’ 3-0 loss to the Braves. Mejia, in his first Mets appearance since Sept. 15, 2010, needed just nine pitches to get a strikeout and two groundouts in a perfect eighth, but then was slapped for a solo homer in the ninth by Dan Uggla.
“I feel great. It was a long time for me since I’ve been out there,” said Mejia, who was only 20 when he debuted for the Mets in April 2010, had a quick rise through the ranks and then suffered a torn elbow ligament in April last season while pitching at Triple-A Buffalo.
Mejia, who pitched in Single-A, Double-A and Triple-A this season, will get a start or two soon.
“Yeah, they told me that, but they want me to throw a couple innings from the bullpen to get ready,” he said. “I don’t know when, but when they call, I’ll be ready.”
“He threw the ball great,” said manager Terry Collins who added Mejia’s start will not necessarily coincide with Matt Harvey being shut down.
Harvey, a prized Mets prospect who is on an innings limit, will pitch Wednesday and then get another start, according to Collins.
Harvey, between Buffalo and the Mets, has thrown 157 ¹/₃ innings this season. Collins said his shutdown number would be around 170 innings. Asked if Wednesday would be Harvey’s final start, Collins replied, “It will not be. He’ll have another one after that.”
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The Mets lost center fielder Andres Torres in the top of the second inning as he made running catch on Martin Prado liner and then hit the ground. He suffered a bruised left knee and is listed as day-to-day.
“It doesn’t look like there’s any damage to the knee,” Collins said.
Ironically, it was Torres’ right knee that hit the ground but the injury was to the left.
“I just twisted it a little. When I hit the right knee, the other just twisted a little,” said Torres who did not require an MRI and hoped to be available today.
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Ruben Tejada was given last night off — and will also rest Saturday, Collins said. The manager said he realized how spent his young shortstop is after his four-strikeout, one-error game Wednesday.
“I’m trying to make sure that he gets enough time. He hasn’t had very good success against [Paul Maholm, last night’s starter] or [Kris Medlin, today’s pitcher for the Braves] so I might give him a couple of days to really get his legs underneath him again and find some energy,” Collins said. “I thought the other day it really stuck out he may be really more tired than I even anticipated him being.”
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Catcher Kelly Shoppach visited FDNY Squad 288/HasMat1 in Maspeth, Queens yesterday, dressing as a fireman. The Mets annually visit the squad’s headquarters around the anniversary of 9/11. The squad lost 19 members in the terrorist attacks. … Monday will be David Wright’s turn. The third baseman continues his yearly practice of visiting a local firehouse to commemorate 9/11. Wright will be at Squad 18 on West 10th St. in Manhattan.
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The Mets entertained the Fairfield American Little League all-stars last night and will welcome Par-Troy East Little League of Parsippany NJ today. Both teams made it to Williamsport, Pa. for the Little League World Series. … The Mets are 19-31 against lefty starters.
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Since the All-Star break, Mets are hitting .205 (83-of-405) with runners in scoring position. They were .269 (199-of-739) before the break. …. The Mets have scored three runs or fewer in eight straight home games.
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Collins on Chipper Jones: “He’s beaten me a few times. Not just here. When he was young and I was in Houston he was the up-and-coming guy. Everybody knew he was going to be great and it turned out that way. Great swing. Quick, quick hands. Back then he could have come up and been a Cal Ripken playing shortstop. Great skills.”