Jerry Manuel jokingly said the Mets haven’t had a closer in more than month, but Luis Ayala is certainly doing a nice impersonation of one.
Just hours after the Amazin’s learned that All-Star closer Billy Wagner likely will be lost for the season because recurring elbow woes, the recently added Ayala picked up his sixth save in seven chances last night in a 6-3 win over the Phillies in the nightcap of yesterday’s doubleheader.
Ayala, who struggled so mightily with the last-place Nationals that Washington traded him to the Mets for an infielder (Anderson Hernandez) hitting below .200 in the minor leagues, suddenly has become a rock.
The right-hander was touched for a run in the ninth last night, but it was unearned. He is a big reason why the Mets’ once-beleaguered bullpen has now pitched 23 consecutive scoreless innings.
“I feel bad for Billy, but I’m here for whatever the team needs and I know I can do the job,” Ayala said.
The Mets might have given a hint about oft-injured second baseman Luis Castillo‘s future by assigning rookie Daniel Murphy to the Arizona Fall League – at the same position as Castillo.
The hot-hitting Murphy, who has played strictly left field since being promoted to the majors last month, was a third baseman in college before being moved to second base by Mets while he was with Double-A Binghamton this summer.
Phillies manager Charlie Manuel was ejected in the first inning of Game 2 by home-plate umpire Jerry Meals for arguing a catcher’s interference call on Chris Coste.