Familia learned to ‘close’ yesterday’s door

LOS ANGELES — It was a sensesnumbing, gutbusting defeat. On July 30 — the game that seemingly crammed a week of rain delays into a single afternoon — Jeurys Familia was summoned after one delay to save a tworun lead in the ninth. He yielded a threerun homer to San Diego’s Justin Upton and the Mets lost, 87.

Such a blown save might cause some pitchers to suck their thumbs and consider a new career repairing transmis sions. Last season, Familia might have done that. This season, Familia wanted the ball again ASAP.

“This year is so different from last year,” Familia said Thursday before the Mets began their workout for their Friday NLDS opener with the Dodgers. “When I gave up a home run or big run, I’d be mad for two, three days. This year I give up a run, I just moved forward. Look at my video, see what I do bad and go home and try to forget. Enjoy my family and my son.”

Familia credits guidance from the likes of veteran teammate Bartolo Colon and bullpen coach Ricky Bones. But he admits the change from sulking brooder to a guy with a 1.85 ERA and 43 saves, which tied Armando Benitez’s 2001 franchise mark, came from within.

“[Those guys] gave me the confidence to go out and throw my pitches and if I do bad, just get them the next day,” Familia said. “Now that’s the difference: I can move forward. Last year, I’d think about it. This year, I try to forget and come in.”

Manager Terry Collins, who handed Familia the closer’s job in April when Jenrry Mejia was first suspended for PED use, recognizes and appreciates the change.

“We saw it this year. When he went through his little streak where he had some struggles, man, he didn’t let it get to him,” said Collins, who recalled Familia’s struggles last season transitioning from starter to reliever. “He just kept taking the ball, going out and doing the best he can. When he’s right, he’s as good as there is in the game.”