WASHINGTON — The Mets’ eventful comeback win over the Washington Nationals on Friday night time offered just a few fascinating milestones, like Drew Smith’s first profession save and the third three-run single in franchise historical past, however there was one other one which was misplaced among the many others.
Veteran reliever David Robertson recorded his 1,000th profession strikeout when he struck out Alex Call to file the primary out of the ninth inning. He then struck out CJ Abrams for profession Ok No. 1,001.
Robertson grew to become solely the fourth pitcher to file 1,000 strikeouts solely in aid.
“It’s a big number I’ve been chasing for a while but I wasn’t sure if I was ever going to get to it or not, especially after a few years ago,” Robertson mentioned Saturday afternoon at Nationals Park. “I look at it like the accomplishments that [Max] Scherzer and [Justin] Verlander have gotten. They get to 3,000 and to get to 1,000 for a reliever is a big deal.”
It was a milestone he knew was in attain, however not one he had been serious about a complete lot for the reason that 2023 season, his first with the Mets, started.
“I kind of thought I could get there last year when I rolled over 900 in Chicago and I had no idea that I was even that close,” he mentioned. “Since coming into the season, I knew I had maybe 30 or 40 that I needed to get to get to this point. I try not to look, so I haven’t looked since the beginning of the year, I just knew I was getting close.”
While the 38-year-old Scherzer and 40-year-old Verlander have proven some indicators of age this season, Robertson, 38, has been considerably of an ageless surprise for the Mets’ bullpen. The former Yankees right-hander has stepped again into a job he as soon as performed after Mariano Rivera was injured and afterward, after the Hall of Fame nearer retired. The Mets are utilizing a closer-by-committee strategy this season with Edwin Diaz recovering from patellar tendon surgical procedure, however Robertson has been the man the Mets have turned to in save conditions greater than another. He’s transformed seven saves in seven alternatives and has allowed solely a single earned run in 17 innings (0.53 ERA).
Robertson has additionally been tasked with consuming some center innings. He went 1.2 innings Friday night time and would have gone for that sixth out however he ran out of fuel and walked two hitters, prompting the Mets to go to Smith.
The Mets don’t need to rely too closely on Robertson’s capability to throw a number of innings however they know they’ll make the most of his versatility once they should.
“We have to pick our spots,” supervisor Buck Showalter mentioned. “It’s not something we like to do.”
At Robertson’s age, it’s robust to know the way for much longer he’ll proceed to pitch, however he’s content material to go so long as he can till both he wins a World Series or his spouse tells him it’s time to cease.
Roberston thought possibly he must name it a profession after present process Tommy John surgical procedure in 2019, however the surgical procedure revitalized him. The strikeouts appear to energise him every time as properly.
“I got a new elbow. That helped a lot,” the Alabama native mentioned. “I was definitely not going to get there without that surgery. I just try to stay in shape, try to keep a positive attitude and when I get in between the lines, try to do everything I can to get those outs. But those strikeouts are big. Any ball that’s not put in play is an easy out.”
However, his first strikeout wasn’t one he thought-about to be an “easy out.” Oddly sufficient, it got here in opposition to the Mets at Shea Stadium on June 29, 2008.
“I faced Oliver Perez, the pitcher,” he mentioned. “Nine pitches, it took a long time. I was a nervous wreck.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Right-hander Dominic Leone felt elbow discomfort when warming up within the bullpen Friday night time, which is why the Mets went to Smith after Robertson. Leone didn’t bear any testing earlier than the sport on Saturday, opting to play catch and see how his elbow held up.
The Mets are able to activate left-hander Brooks Raley off the injured listing and have been contemplating utilizing Leone’s roster spot, ought to he have been positioned on IL. However, no roster transfer was made previous to the sport, so the Mets must wait not less than one other day to get their solely left-handed reliever again within the bullpen.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com