WASHINGTON — Jeurys Familia can rest Wednesday or Thursday.
The often-used Mets reliever didn’t need to pitch in Tuesday’s eighth inning based on the score, but manager Terry Collins thought it was important for Familia to get back into action, a day after he surrendered the tying run to the Giants.
“[Familia] went right after the hitters, and with that sinker he’s going to get some ground balls,” Collins said after Familia worked a scoreless eighth in the Mets’ 6-1 victory over the Nationals.
On Monday, Familia was charged with the blown save after allowing a run on two hits and two walks in the seventh. The Giants then scored a run to beat Jenrry Mejia in the ninth.
Familia, who has allowed just two earned runs over his last 24 games, said his days of fretting after a letdown are over.
“When I came into the big leagues and had a bad day I would think about it tomorrow,” Familia said. “But right now I’m just trying to forget that and get them the next day.”
Juan Lagares lay motionless after making a diving catch on Denard Span’s bloop to end the seventh, but walked off the field and remained in the game.
Collins said Lagares just got the wind knocked out of him. Lagares finished the game 1-for-4 and was also hit by a pitch.
Lucas Duda was in Tuesday’s lineup against lefty Gio Gonzalez because Collins said he liked the matchup.
“I just thought this would be a good test for Lucas, to see how he approaches him and we’ve been talking about giving him that opportunity and I thought this was a good matchup,” Collins said.
Duda went 1-for-5, with an RBI single against Drew Storen in the seventh inning.
Collins said it was a difficult unloading Bobby Abreu, who was designated for assignment Monday. Kirk Nieuwenhuis arrived from Triple-A Las Vegas to take the 40-year-old Abreu’s roster spot.
“We decided we have to start looking at some of these young guys and give them an opportunity to play,” Collins said.