MLB

Mets’ Gee springs back into major action

JUPITER, Fla. — Dillon Gee hadn’t faced major league hitters since last July after undergoing surgery to remove a clot in an artery.

And while you could argue that’s still the case after yesterday’s performance against the Marlins, Gee’s three scoreless innings were a positive sign.

“I was just excited to get out there and compete again,” Gee said after the Mets lost to Miami, 6-4, at Roger Dean Stadium.

So while he left his fastball up more than he or pitching coach Dan Warthen would have liked, both were encouraged.

“I’d expect that from him, to be amped up,” Warthen said.

Gee focused on the fact his arm was strong.

“I’ll try to put that behind me,” Gee said of the clot that resulted in numbness in his fingers and forced him to miss the second half of the season. “You can’t go out there timid.”

Gee has been symptom-free since he began throwing toward the end of last season, but admitted it was different to face big league hitters after an outing against the University of Michigan last week.

PHOTOS: METS SPRING TRAINING

“I was getting ahead of myself a little bit,” said Gee, who threw 50 pitches, gave up three hits, struck out one and walked another. “Health-wise, I felt good.”

And he left confident he is returning to the form that made him a 13-game winner in 2011.

“I felt great all offseason, so in my mind, there’s nothing to be worried about,” Gee said. “My arm is still getting conditioned. I’m still getting in pitching shape.”

And he’s off to a good start.

“It was a big step forward for him,” manager Terry Collins said.

* Kirk Nieuwenhuis left the game after bruising his left knee sliding into second base.

“I hope it’s just a bad bruise,” Nieuwenhuis said. “When I went to take my lead, it kind of buckled a little bit.”

Nieuwenhuis has struggled this spring and an extended absence wouldn’t help.

“I don’t think it’s something bad,” said Nieuwenhuis, who made a tremendous diving play in deep right-center to rob Juan Pierre of an extra-base hit to start the bottom of the first.

* Cory Mazzoni gave up his first runs of the spring when he surrendered a pair in two innings yesterday … John Buck hit his second homer of the spring, while Brandon Hicks had his first.