MLB

Mets’ Santana sharp in first game since 2010

PORT ST. LUCIE — Johan Santana looked ready to party like it was 2009.

The Mets might not want to celebrate too hard, not until their ace lefty makes it to Opening Day at least, but yesterday certainly rated among the better days this franchise has seen in recent years.

Over 29 pitches in two exhibition innings, Santana held the Cardinals scoreless on one hit and one walk. And the Mets could leave Digital Domain Park dreaming of bigger and better things to come.

“Finally I had an opportunity to go out there and finally get the first one out of the way,” Santana said after facing major-league hitters in a game situation for the first time since Sept. 2, 2010. “I tried to throw all my pitches and get adapted to the mound, but it felt pretty good.”

Santana’s velocity was mostly in the high 80s and peaked at 90 mph, according to the scoreboard radar display, but pitching coach Dan Warthen said those numbers weren’t accurate.

By Warthen’s information, Santana peaked at 92 mph and hit 90 on several other occasions. Whatever the truth, Santana was impressive nonetheless.

“He threw free and loose — he looked like the Santana we’ve seen before,” a veteran scout said. “His fastballs did touch 90 and his change-up, the first couple weren’t very good, and then suddenly the old Santana change-up came back.”

He was referring to a 1-1 pitch that completely fooled Yadier Molina in the second inning.

The scout was asked if he would have known Santana had shoulder surgery based on yesterday’s performance.

“He still has the short-arm delivery he had before, so I wouldn’t have known that, no,” the scout said. “He looked very natural out there today.”

It was certainly Santana’s most significant step since the September 2010 surgery to repair a torn anterior capsule in his left shoulder. Echoing a common refrain this spring, Santana said he won’t know about his next start until he throws a bullpen session tomorrow. But he also admitted he fully expects to be on the mound Sunday to face the Marlins.

“The way I feel right now, and the way I ended up the game today, it was good,” Santana said. “It’s a good sign, so hopefully we’ll be back on the mound in five days.”

As manager Terry Collins left the dugout to congratulate Santana after his second inning of work, the pitcher yelled “Yeah, baby!” Collins felt exactly the same way.

“This has been a great camp so far, but this might be the most positive day we’ve had,” Collins said. “You look up on that scoreboard and you see, 88, 89, 90, and we think he can get better than that. With his savvy on the mound, that will work. We know it’s going to get better than that.”

Collins was even allowing himself to celebrate a little.

“God almighty, I don’t know if we could have a bigger step forward today than that,” he said. “We take enough body blows as it is. We need to be able to put a smile on our face and say, ‘Gosh darn that’s a good day and that’s some joy.’ Obviously we’ll wait to see what the outcome is going to be [today] and the next day, but that’s pretty fun to watch.”

For Warthen, the best part was watching Santana start a 1-6-3 double play on a Skip Schumaker comebacker after the game’s leadoff hitter, Shane Robinson, had walked.

“[Santana] did it without even thinking about it,” Warthen said. “And he showed no ill effects.”