A dream day for Groton’s Hahn
Picks up first major league win, singles home a run
New York — The way Groton’s Jesse Hahn pitched, his dad expected a winning effort. The RBI single? Well, that was something new.
“I’m surprised he didn’t run to third base,” Fred Hahn said outside the clubhouse. “He’s not much of a hitter.” His son earned his first big league victory Saturday, throwing one-hit ball for six innings and contributing a soft single as the San Diego Padres stopped a five-game losing streak, beating the New York Mets 5-0.
“It’s awesome,” the rookie said. “I was very relaxed. I stayed focused and stayed calm.”
Hahn, a 2007 Fitch High School graduate, combined with the San Diego bullpen on a two-hitter. The Mets managed Ruben Tejada’s infield hit leading off the first and Lucas Duda’s bloop single down the left field line in the ninth.
Promoted from Double-A to make his second appearance in the majors, Hahn ( 1- 1) struck out seven and walked three in the longest outing of his professional career. The 24-year-old righty escaped his biggest jam by fanning Matt den Dekker with the bases Padres Mets loaded to end the fourth.
At 6-foot-5 with socks pulled up nearly to his knees, Hahn won in front of his father, sister and about 20 family members and friends.
“I wanted all of those people to be here. They’ve supported me my whole life,” Hahn said.
Injured Mets ace Matt Harvey was a teammate at Fitch.
Hahn missed the 2011 season after having Tommy John surgery, and Harvey watched from the dugout while he rehabs from the same procedure.
Hahn said Harvey sent him a text message before the game wishing him good luck. After Hahn was done, Harvey texted congratulations.
“I know he had a lot of people here from Connecticut,” Padres manager Bud Black said, “and he responded.”
Hahn made his major league debut June 3 against Pittsburgh, and was chased after giving up two home runs in 3 2-3 innings. This time, Hahn was effective with his arm and bat.
Hahn blooped an opposite-field single to right with two outs in the fourth for his first hit since high school. Cameron Maybin easily scored, and was trotting back to the dugout when plate umpire Dan Bellino flipped him Hahn’s souvenir.
“Not your prototypical line drive, bullet, missile you like for your first hit,” Black kidded.
Maybin later showed off some alert baserunning, winding up all the way at third on an infield grounder. Yonder Alonso broke from third on the bouncer and eventually was tagged out, but he prolonged the rundown long enough to allow Maybin to keep running.
Chase Headley hit a solo homer, an RBI single and scored twice. Alonso hit two doubles.
Padres relievers Dale Thayer, Joaquin Benoit and Huston Street each pitched an inning, sending the Mets to their ninth loss in 11 games.
“The way they threw the ball, mixed in with some poor at-bats, and they were able to throw up a lot of zeros,” Mets star David Wright said.
Zack Wheeler (2-7) remained winless in eight home starts since last August. He’s averaging an NL-high 18 pitches per inning, and threw 100 in five busy innings.
San Diego began the day last in the majors in batting average and runs, and just three starters were hitting over .215.