Bartolo Colon is currently the best performing starting pitcher on the New York Mets. Over the last 30 days, he has made five starts and one relief appearance while posting a 2.02 ERA and 1.121 WHIP.
On Saturday night in Miami, Colon tossed a complete game shutout against the Marlins, the first shutout by a Mets starter since Zack Wheeler last fired one in 2014, and the 13th of Colon’s career.
“I’ve been working hard in the bullpen with the pitching coach, mainly on my secondary pitches, and that’s made by fastball better,” said Colon through a translator.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Colon (42) became the oldest pitcher since Jamie Moyer (47) in 2010 to throw a shutout, and he’s the oldest pitcher in the majors with a scoreless streak of 25 innings since Hoyt Wilhelm (25 1/3 innings) in 1967.
The veteran right-hander walked none, scattered nine hits, and struck out two while earning his team-leading 13th win of the season.
“He’s a very crafty and tough veteran,” Miami manager Dan Jennings said. “He understands the art of pitching and that’s why he’s had the success he’s had.”
Colon has produced three straight scoreless starts for the first time in his 18-year major league career.
As if his commanding performance on Saturday night was not enough, Bartolo Colon thrilled fans at Marlins Park with an acrobatic defensive gem while fielding a Justin Bour grounder in the sixth inning of the game.
Colon bare-handed the ball and then flipped it behind his back to make a perfect throw to first baseman Eric Campbell for the final out of the inning.
“I thought about the flip before I got the ball,” Colon said. “Because there were two outs and we were seven runs ahead, I did it.”
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” a stunned Terry Collins said after the game. “He better be No. 1 on SportsCenter tonight.”
The old master continues to amaze in every aspect of his game including surpassing his previous career high for basehits in a season. Colon may just be the eighth wonder of the world right now.
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