Dilson Herrera is now just 1,688 hits behind David Wright for the Mets’ all-time hits lead.
Herrera, in his second MLB game, singled in the seventh inning for his first-ever hit. He also walked in his 1-for-3 night in the Mets’ 7-2 loss to the Phillies.
“I’m so happy. I’m so excited. I can’t believe it happened,” said Herrera, 20, the youngest player in the majors.
Regardless of what the future holds for Bartolo Colon, manager Terry Collins made it clear he’d prefer keeping the veteran right-hander, who is a good influence on the younger pitchers.
“He brings something to the party, there’s no doubt,” Collins said. “He’s got a presence about him. He is very good at sharing information and knowledge. … So I hope he stays, but that stuff is out of my hands.”
Saturday represented Collins’ 1,500th game as a major league manager. He is 732-768 (.488).
“It means I’m really, really lucky. That’s exactly what it means,” Collins said. “This has been here a great experience. I’ve been in pennant races, it’s a lot of fun. I’m lucky to be able to do it as long as I’ve done it and hopefully can continue for a while.”
Collins is one of nine active managers with 1,500 games.
Collins said he did not think of pinch-hitting for Curtis Granderson with two out and the bases loaded in the seventh when the Phillies summoned lefty Antonio Bastardo. Granderson struck out.
“Those situations, that’s why he is who he is, because he comes up big in those situations,” Collins said, noting he wants to give the slumping Granderson a day off. “You always know he’s going to break out of it, and you’re hoping with the bases loaded that was going to be the time.”
Jenrry Mejia never had a number in mind. But now that he has achieved his 20th save, the Mets closer admitted pride in the number — though it took a back seat to what really mattered.
“That makes me happy because I never knew I was going to be in that role. But the number it doesn’t mean anything,” Mejia said. “I never thought about it because I was never in a closer role. They put me over there and said, ‘Close, close’ and now I’m there.
“I’ll do whatever they want me to do. … I’m here for my teammates. I’ve got to be here for my team. I don’t care about myself.”
When Mejia notched his 20th save Friday, he became the 14th pitcher in team history and at 24, the second youngest (Neil Allen was 22 in 1980 when he saved 22) to reach that level.
Wright was ruled out in a 3-3-6-3-4 double play in the fourth. Originally called safe getting back to first, replays showed Chase Utley did tag him on a footrace back to the base. … The Mets are 12-6 against the Phillies this season. … Marlon Byrd celebrated his 37th birthday with his career-best 25th homer.
Collins addressed rookie Jeurys Familia’s workload. Familia entered Saturday having pitched in a team high 63 games. Collins said there are some scenarios he would like to avoid.
“Ups and downs. We’re not going to get him up two or three times and then get him in the game. Probably if he gets up, he’s going in,” Collins said. “Back-to-back days, if we can do without him, depending on how many pitches he threw the night before because it would be an issue.
“We certainly discussed all the different things he can go through and to make sure we don’t wear him down just by warming him up or giving him too much. But again we’re trying to win games, and he’s a big piece of that.”