PERFECT TIMING: Tim Byrdak, who had knee surgery three weeks ago, struck out two batters yesterday to help the Mets preserve a 1-0 win over the Braves. (
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The Mets asked Tim Byrdak on Tuesday where he was in his comeback from knee surgery. It had only been three weeks since the left-handed reliever had gone under the knife for a torn meniscus. And it was also only two days until Opening Day.
Byrdak told the Mets he was fine, and then threw a scoreless inning that day against the Yankees in Port St. Lucie.
On Opening Day against the Braves at Citi Field yesterday, Byrdak entered the game with a runner on third and one out in the seventh inning, the Mets up just a run and the Braves threatening to shatter an encouraging season-opening triumph.
Byrdak, though, struck out Jose Constanza.
Then did the same to Michael Bourn for the third out.
“Unbelievable,” Daniel Murphy said of Byrdak’s performance in the Mets’ 1-0 win.
Manager Terry Collins went the other way.
“That’s what he does,” Collins said.
And if Byrdak isn’t quite that automatic, he’s still pretty effective. Last year lefties batted just .222 against him, with 36 strikeouts in 99 at-bats. And for the season, Byrdak racked up 47 strikeouts in 37 2/3 innings.
Byrdak, however, wasn’t the only reliever who had a successful Opening Day. The Mets’ three big bullpen acquisitions from the offseason all contributed to the victory.
Ramon Ramirez, who was acquired from the Giants with Andres Torres for Angel Pagan, pitched 1 1/3 innings, giving up two hits and walking one. He got the Mets in a little trouble, but Byrdak masterfully made the rescue.
The 6-foot-11 Jon Rauch and closer Frank Francisco, who were both signed on Dec. 6, pitched the final two innings, allowing no runs and no hits. Francisco struck out two and recorded his first save as a Met.
Byrdak, who said his knee feels completely healthy, needed only nine pitches for his two outs, firing eight for strikes. When he first entered the game against Constanza, Byrdak said he wanted a strikeout and if that couldn’t happen, he wanted to ensure the ball stayed in the infield.
“We needed a punchout, especially with Constanza,” catcher Josh Thole said.
Byrdak fanned him with a slider, bringing up Bourn. Four pitches later, the jam was over.
As Collins said of his pitcher: “He told us that he would be ready for Opening Day.”