Though the dangerous Albert Pujols was facing Bobby Parnell with the bases loaded in the eighth inning last night, Angel Pagan had complete faith his setup man would get the job done.
“I got my money on my guy,” Pagan said.
Pagan’s guy was Parnell, and he delivered. With the bases loaded, one out and the Mets up two runs, the hard-throwing right-hander retired Pujols on an inning-ending 6-6-3 double play. Jason Isringhausen then pitched a perfect ninth to pick up his first save in three years and his first Mets save in 12 years, a 4-2 win at Citi Field.
Parnell and Isringhausen came through in the Mets’ first save situation since they dealt Francisco Rodriguez to Milwaukee at the All-Star break. Isringhausen, facing the Cardinals for the first time since they parted ways after 2008, picked up career save 294. It was his first save since Aug. 1, 2008, while with St. Louis.
“Baseball gods, that’s how they work,” he said.
Last weekend, manager Terry Collins said Isringhausen would be his closer against the Phillies if needed, but the circumstance never presented itself. Last night it did. Parnell, also in the closer derby, started the eighth inning and got into trouble, allowing Daniel Descalso’s leadoff single and hitting Skip Schumaker.
But Parnell struck out Ryan Theriot before Jon Jay’s infield single loaded the bases for Pujols. Pitching coach Dan Warthen, catcher Ronny Paulino and the Mets infielders came to the mound for a chat.
“[They said to] just stick to the gameplan,” Parnell said. “Stay focused and stay calm.”
Parnell got ahead of Pujols 0-2, throwing fastballs clocked at 99 mph and 101 mph. After a foul ball on a 100-mph heater, Parnell threw a slider, and Pujols hit a grounder up the middle that Jose Reyes turned into a nifty 6-6-3 double play.
In the ninth, Isringhausen retired Matt Holliday on a comebacker to open the inning before getting Lance Berkman on a groundout to second and striking out David Freese to end it. Is ringhausen’s 12 years since his last Mets save (July 6, 1999 against the Expos) is the Mets’ longest in their history.
Isringhausen, who turns 39 in September, said he’s not thinking about possibly getting traded before July 31.
“That’s the last thing on my mind right now,” he said, before joking about his presumed limited worth. “I don’t know what they’re going to get for me.”