Barty time!
Ageless wonder spurs Mets win
This old dog still can hunt.
Bartolo Colon might be a man without a role if the Mets reach the playoffs, but he could give team brass something to consider if he continues his recent momentum deep into September.
The veteran righthander extended his scoreless streak to a seasonhigh 16 innings with a gem Monday that carried the Mets to a 31 victory over the Phillies at Citi Field.
The Mets, who have a 6 ¹/₂ game lead over the Nationals in the NL East, have plenty of rotation options should they reach the postseason, starting with Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey and Noah Syndergaard, with Steven Matz on the way and Jon Niese possibly in the mix, leaving the 42yearold Colon as maybe a bullpen option. Colon made a cameo in relief on Saturday and threw a scoreless inning against the Red Sox.
“I feel really good and no matter what the decision would be, I’m here to pitch and that’s nothing I can control,” Colon said. “It’s up to them, but I’m here to pitch and I can pitch anywhere they need me.”
Manager Terry Collins said it’s too early to consider anything beyond the next handful of games.
“We’re looking at the road trip coming up and who’s going to fit where,” Collins said. “We’ve kind of got it lined up a little bit for the Nationals, but I’m not looking any farther than the week ahead. What happens at the end of the month, we’ll worry about it then.”
Pity the poor Phillies, who have lost 13 of 14 games against the Mets this season with five still remaining. The Mets (7358) have 10 straight wins against Philly for just the second time in franchise history.
Jeurys Familia created drama by loading the bases with nobody out in the ninth before getting Jeff Francoeur to hit into a brokenbat double play and then striking out Andres Blanco for his 36th save in 41 chances. The victory put the Mets at 208 in August. The club’s last 20win month (in any calendar month) came in Aug. 2000.
“The biggest difference is July 31 we made some moves that brought some energy, brought some en thusiasm to this team, in the clubhouse and on the field and I think it spread,” Collins said.
Colon (1211) allowed four hits over eight shutout innings with nine strikeouts and one walk. He also singled in the fifth against Jerad Eikhoff for his seventh hit of the season, a career best.
But Colon was happier he lasted eight innings for the third time this season — the Mets still do not have a complete game.
“I feel really proud, but more important it felt good for the team and especially the bullpen,” Colon said.
The Mets homered twice to finish the month with 45. Their previous record for a calendar month was 40, set in June 2006.
Curtis Granderson’s tworun rocket in the fifth was the Mets’ second home run of the inning and extended their lead to 30. Colon delivered a twoout single to keep the inning alive before Granderson unloaded for his 23rd homer of the season.
Michael Conforto’s solo homer earlier in the inning broke a scoreless tie. The blast was Conforto’s fourth of the season and continued a hot stretch for the rookie, who is 14for38 (.368) over his last 13 games.
Colon allowed consecutive singles in the fifth, including one to the pitcher Eickhoff, but escaped trouble by retiring Odubel Herrera. An inning earlier, Colon survived Cesar Hernandez’s leadoff single by getting Aaron Altherr to hit into a double play.
Colon retired the final 10 batters he faced, which included striking out the side in the seventh.
But Collins said he didn’t give much thought to letting Colon, at 100 pitches, work the ninth.
“I’ve got one of the best closers in the game,” Collins said. “We’re in a closing situation. I’m closing with him.”