PHILADELPHIA — The Hawk will never die.
In this city, that is the rallying cry for the Saint Joseph’s basketball team, but it also fit LaTroy Hawkins on Sunday as the 40-year-old Mets reliever was tossing a scoreless ninth inning for his 100th career save.
“I came in this year and I didn’t think I had a chance to get it,” Hawkins said after the Mets’ 4-3 victory at Citizens Bank Park that completed a three-game sweep of the Phillies. “Baseball is a crazy game.”
Hawkins began the season in a setup role, but became the closer early last month when Bobby Parnell was placed on the disabled list with a herniated disk in his neck. On Sunday, Hawkins extended his scoreless innings streak to 12, and for the 22nd time in his last 24 appearances did not surrender a run.
The right-hander allowed a leadoff single to Kevin Frandsen in the ninth, but then got three straight outs, including a strikeout of Jimmy Rollins to end the game. Hawkins became the 21st active pitcher with at least 100 saves. This season he is 3-2 with a 3.01 ERA, with 12 saves in 15 chances.
“This guy is throwing 95 [mph] here in the ninth inning, and he’s done everything,” manager Terry Collins said. “You talk about one of the real veteran, quality professionals in the game and that’s why it’s great to have him here, because I think he’s helped a lot of people here get through some tough times.”
Hawkins has made it clear he intends to continue pitching next season, with an eye toward reaching 1,000 career appearances. He stands at 941.
“The guys always give me [guff] about my age and make fun of it, but I think deep down inside they wish they can still be playing the game at 40,” Hawkins said. “And I hope some of them are, but when all is said and done that is what they always say: ‘I wish I could be playing the game at 40.’ But I say, ‘Make enough money and you probably won’t have to.’ ”
Hawkins got his shot at No. 100 after Carlos Torres (4-5) gave the Mets a chance by allowing two runs on seven hits over six innings. The second run came after Andrew Brown lost a Rollins fly ball in the sun in the sixth that was ruled a double. Scott Atchison followed with a scoreless seventh before Vic Black surrendered a run in the eighth that sliced the Mets’ lead to 4-3.
The victory moved the Mets into a tie with the Phillies for third place in the NL East, but Hawkins said the standings are not a focal point.
“What difference does it make?” he said. “You aren’t in the playoffs. If you want to say there is a difference between first and second, but third and fourth, I don’t know. We’ll fight it out [with the Phillies] the last seven days. Woo, that will be exciting.”
When it was jokingly suggested he upstaged former Yankees teammate Mariano Rivera on a day the iconic closer was honored in New York, Hawkins expressed concern.
“That’s impossible,” Hawkins said. “Do not let that happen, OK?”