PITTSBURGH – This was precisely what the Mets had in mind for their $137.5 million.
Johan Santana was superb to the point of sublime this afternoon, proving himself worthy of every penny of that huge contract with a complete-game, 4-0 shutout of the Pirates that extended the first-place Amazin’s win streak to six games.
It was a showing that practically defined the term ‘ace.’ Santana retired the first 10 batters, struck out seven while walking none and tossed an astounding 85 of his 113 pitches for strikes.
Sure, the going-nowhere Pirates are notorious free swingers, but this was ridiculous – and ridiculously fun for the Mets and Jerry Manuel to watch.
“Johan really, really had it going today,” Manuel said after the Mets started a trip 6-0 for the first time since 2000. “He was very free and easy, and there wasn’t a lot of stress.”
You can say that again. In a game that lasted 2 hours, 42 minutes, the Pirates barely put up a fight after catcher Brian Schneider went deep off ex-Yankees right-hander Jeff Karstens (2-2) in the second inning to put the Mets up 2-0 with his second homer of the trip.
The only suspense after that was whether Manuel would let Santana would go for his second complete game of the season or trust a bullpen still missing All-Star closer Billy Wagner that was so shaky the night before in a 7-4 win.
Manuel was impressed enough by Santana’s smooth effort through eight innings that he deferred to the left-hander, who responded by telling pitching coach Dan Warthen that he wanted badly to finish the game.
Santana’s insistence was understandable, considering how little help the Mets have given him this season. He began the day with a whopping five no-decisions in eight starts since July 4.
“I was just doing my job,” said Santana, who improved to 11-7 while lowering his ERA to a tidy 2.75. “I felt pretty good. I was very consistent throwing my fastball inside and outside for strikes, and they like to put the ball in play. That makes your job a lot easier.”
Santana’s teammates also made his job easier by providing early run support, a hallmark of this undefeated trip to Washington and Pittsburgh. The Mets were up 3-0 through four innings, which would be more than enough against the feeble Pirates.
Schneider was responsible for all three of those runs, following his two-run homer in the second with an RBI single to score Carlos Beltran after a leadoff double in the fourth.
Manuel rested third baseman David Wright (and will do the same with Jose Reyes tomorrow), but other Mets more than picked up the slack. Rookie second baseman Argenis Reyes had the first three-hit day of his career, while Schneider and Beltran had two hits each.
The Pirates, meanwhile, had practically no chance against Santana and his spot-on fastball. First baseman Adam LaRoche struck out three times, and three of Santana’s seven strikeouts were looking.
Santana’s effort helped the Mets make last Monday’s late-inning meltdown at home against these same Pirates even more of a distant memory.
“We cannot let one game change what we’re trying to do here,” Santana said, recalling that 7-5 loss. “We have a lot of confidence in everything we can do, and there’s a lot of time. We’re on a roll right now, and it’s good to see. Everybody’s doing their jobs, being happy and having fun.”