It isn’t a fluke, according to David Wright. Angel Pagan can play.
Last night, Pagan was terrific again, delivering one of the most clutch hits of the Mets’ season, slamming a game-winning RBI single in the Mets’ 4-3, 12-inning victory over the rival Phillies at Shea Stadium. It was the final one of Pagan’s three hits, as the fill-in left-fielder for the injured Moises Alou (hernia) continues to be a season-long sensation.
Though the season is just eight games old, Pagan has been on base in every game and is hitting .370 in 27 at-bats. He has a gaudy .457 on-base percentage.
“He’s giving you the same thing he gave us in spring training,” Mets’ Tony Bernazard, vice president of player development, said after the win.
Pagan batted .329 in spring training, and he has been a steal since the Mets acquired him from the Cubs on Jan. 5 for Corey Coles and Ryan Meyers.
“He’s been in the middle of a lot of what’s going on the last week or so,” manager Willie Randolph said.
Pagan singled and scored in the fourth inning, then doubled and scored in the sixth. His next big at-bat came in the 12th against Tom Gordon with two outs and Jose Reyes on second.
“Anytime in that situation, I’m just going to give my 100 percent, and if I get it done, good,” Pagan said.
He got it done. Pagan knocked a hard single up the middle, and Jose Reyes scored on what was a close play at the plate.
After the hit, Pagan was mobbed.
“They hit me in the nose,” he said. “They hit me everywhere. They can beat me up anytime.”
Wright and Pagan were teammates in 2003 with St. Lucie in A-ball, and Wright said he has high hopes for Pagan.
“I think the best is yet to come,” Wright said. “He’s so fast and he’s so electric, and he hasn’t had the chance to play every day.”
Coming into this season, Pagan had played in 148 games and had 318 at-bats with the Cubs the last two years.
That was his cumulative major league experience, and his average was .255. But Pagan is 26, and so far in his everyday role with Alou out, he has been dazzling.
He was again last night.