SEATTLE — Bartolo Colon must really want out.
The veteran right-hander hasn’t exactly drawn great interest heading toward next week’s non-waiver trade deadline, but on Wednesday had the kind of performance for the Mets that gets you noticed.
After retiring the first 20 batters he faced, Colon settled for a three-hitter over 7 ¹/₃ innings in the Mets’ 3-2 victory over the Mariners at Safeco Field.
Robinson Cano’s single to left field with two outs in the seventh spoiled Colon’s dance with perfection. The Mets remain without a perfect game, two years after Johan Santana became the first pitcher in franchise history to throw a no-hitter.
“I didn’t think about the perfect game,” Colon said after the Mets (48-53) won their second straight. “Until you get to the ninth inning, you shouldn’t be thinking about that.”
Colon (9-8) is deemed expendable by the front office because of the organization’s pitching depth and the fact he is owed $11 million for next season. But trade talks involving Colon have been minimal, according to industry sources, with Colon’s contract a possible sticking point, as the Mets do not seem inclined to eat dollars.
Even so, general manager Sandy Alderson has another week to convince potential suitors the 41-year-old Colon is worth the financial commitment.
“Those are decisions for the upper management and you can’t think about that stuff,” Colon said.
Over his 101 pitches on Wednesday, Colon allowed three hits and one walk with five strikeouts.
He departed in the eighth after Brad Miller’s RBI double — which nearly cleared the right-field fence for a three-run homer — pulled the Mariners within 3-1.
For manager Terry Collins it was evident early Colon could have a special afternoon.
“You just sensed it in the first inning,” Collins said. “Probably at the second hitter, you’re saying, ‘He’s on today.’ You saw some funny swings from good hitters and that’s when you said, ‘We’ve got to score some runs for him because he’s going to dominate this game.’ ”
Jeurys Familia entered in the eighth and was the beneficiary of an overturned call on replay. Willie Bloomquist was originally signaled safe by Marvin Hudson, beating shortstop Eric Campbell’s throw, but replays showed the runner was out. Though a run scored on the play, the Mets were just happy to get the second out. Familia then struck out Endy Chavez to leave the tying run at third base.
Jenrry Mejia earned his 13th save in 15 chances with a scoreless ninth, leaving the tying run stranded at second base.
In his previous four starts combined, Colon was 0-3 with a 5.88 ERA. That included a start last Friday in which he battled an upset stomach and headaches, allowing four earned runs over five innings in a no-decision against the Padres.
But the fifth inning on Wednesday served notice to the Mets that Colon could make a run at history.
“After about the fifth inning, that’s when you started to think about [the perfect game] a little bit,” catcher Anthony Recker said. “After the sixth you’re like, ‘Here we go. We’ve only got one more time through the lineup.’ ”
Colon, who is now 13-1 at Safeco Field, received a cushion in the seventh, when David Wright stroked an RBI single that gave the Mets a 3-0 lead.
Taijuan Walker lasted five-plus inning for the Mariners in which he allowed two earned runs on five hits with six walks and five strikeouts. He departed with the bases loaded in the sixth and was charged for his second run on Juan Lagares’ sacrifice fly that gave the Mets a 2-0 lead. Wright singled to begin the rally before Lucas Duda and Bobby Abreu walked in succession.
Daniel Murphy’s RBI double in the first gave the Mets a 1-0 lead. Eric Young Jr. walked leading off and stole second.