Jeurys Familia has added occasional drama to the equation this season, but perfection is perfection.
And no closer in Mets history has assembled the kind of run Familia is enjoying as he fortifies his reputation among the game’s elite relievers.
The 26-year-old righty escaped a ninth-inning jam in Washington on Wednesday to convert his 32nd straight save opportunity in the regular season, breaking the franchise record he shared with Billy Wagner. Arizona’s Brad Ziegler has the longest current streak in the major leagues at 36 straight.
“[Familia] has got better stuff than I ever had,” Wagner told The Post on Thursday. “He’s obviously a real closer and you have to really tip your hat to him and all the stuff he’s accomplished. He’s going to set a ton of records.”
For the season, Familia is 1-0 with a 2.01 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP with 16 saves. His last regular-season blown save came last July 30, when he allowed a three-run homer to Justin Upton in the Mets’ wild 8-7 loss to the Padres that followed a ninth-inning rain delay at Citi Field. Familia concluded the regular season 16-for-16, but blew three saves against the Royals in the World Series.
“I’ve been working for the last year, trying to be more consistent,” Familia said. “Every time I come into the game I try to attack the hitter and throw strikes, that is all I can control. If I give up a single or a homer, I try to get the next hitter. I make my pitch and try to be under control.”
Wagner’s streak of converting 31 straight save opportunities occurred in 2006-07. David Wright, who has played behind both pitchers, would take his chances with either closer to protect a lead in the ninth.
“They both throw really hard, and it’s nice having those two guys at the back of the game, because when we had Billy, you might as well just make it an eight-inning game,” Wright said. “When he came in, he would get the job done, and Jeurys is slowly getting there.
“Obviously he doesn’t have the track record Billy has got, but he’s certainly got the stuff, and that is a tremendous compliment because Billy arguably had some of the best stuff of anybody in baseball and Familia is right there in this day and age.”
Familia had a shaky stretch in April, during which he allowed 13 hits over eight innings, but has since rebounded. He has surrendered only one run on five hits over his last 9 1/3 innings and hasn’t walked a batter since April 22.
It certainly helps that manager Terry Collins has a strong setup core that includes Hansel Robles, Addison Reed and Jim Henderson, helping ensure Familia isn’t overextended. Overall, the Mets’ 2.36 ERA in the bullpen ranks first in the major leagues.
On Wednesday, Familia allowed consecutive singles to Jayson Werth and Daniel Murphy to begin the ninth before retiring three straight batters to save the 2-0 victory.
“You saw what happened when he got in trouble,” Collins said. “He picked his game up in the ninth inning. He’s getting it back and I’ve just got to get him to quit hanging those 0-2 sliders.”
Familia certainly isn’t trying to trick batters.
“You look at the radar gun and 98 [mph] with movement, that is no fun to hit,” Wright said. “And he’s got a split that he can throw in the low-90s with a very good slider that can keep you honest and he’s got the stuff, he’s got the makeup. I think he’s really become, transformed into a true closer, where the mentality is there, the routine is there, and I think he’s really embraced this position since he’s been given it.”