This is not going to be closer by committee for the Mets. But they still are transforming Jenrry Mejia from starter to closer and, like the building of Rome or a major league contender, it doesn’t happen in a day. So for those times when Mejia is unavailable, the Mets need closer options.
Wednesday against Pittsburgh at Citi Field was one of those days. And Jeurys Familia was easily the best option, finishing out the 5-0 victory.
Mejia recorded a six-out save Tuesday. Daisuke Matsuzaka’s shoulder was tender. Vic Black was unavailable.
“We were short today,” manager Terry Collins said. “So when we came to that point, Familia was going to be our guy.”
For however long it took — in this case, five outs. Familia relieved Bartolo Colon with one out, two on and the score 3-0 in the eighth. Familia promptly induced a first-pitch double-play grounder by Ike Davis then worked a scoreless ninth for his first save of the season, second of his career. Familia also delivered his first major league hit.
“My confidence is better now because the veteran guys help me and I go out there and trust my stuff and throw strikes,” said Familia, who praised the daily regimen he does with coaches designed to improve his control, especially with his breaking ball. “It’s working for me.”
So much so Collins admits Familia, along with Black, must be considered to close when Mejia is unavailable.
“We’ve reached the point where he’s got to be in the back end, he’s got to be a late-in-the-game guy. Plus stuff, throwing strikes. We’ve got to keep him in that role,” Collins said, admitting he’d use Familia to close as necessary. “You have to consider it. With our situation where Jenrry’s at we’re trying to milk him into this, you’ve got to consider [Familia] as another option.”
Familia, who became the Mets’ MLB-leading sixth different pitcher with a save this season, shrugged. Whenever, wherever, whatever.
“Whatever situation he put me, I try to do my best. It doesn’t matter what inning: six, seven, eight, nine,” said Familia who, coupled with Mejia’s effort the previous night, gave the Mets their first set of consecutive saves of five outs or more since Sept. 26-27, 2005, when Roberto Hernandez and Aaron Heilman each threw two innings for saves in Philadelphia, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
Collins said he was committed to Familia batting, but it became an easy choice when Lucas Duda drove a two-run bomb in the bottom of the eighth. Familia would have hit, Collins said, “with the bases loaded and two outs.”
No biggie. Familia — after a pitching coach visit to the mound by the Pirates — singled off Bryan Morris for his first hit. Yes, he got the ball.
“They didn’t know I could hit,” Familia said, and when asked if he knew he could hit, replied, “yeah.”
His confidence extended from pitching mound to batter’s box.