Jeurys Familia was amazing after being called on for the six out save in last night’s game. While it was the first of his career, he looked as dominating as ever.
He retired every batter he faced as he faced as he overpowered the Dodgers with his explosive heat. Familia struck out the final two batters of the game before he and the team erupted in celebration.
“He’s gotten four-out saves. He’s gotten five-out saves. Why not six?” said general manager Sandy Alderson said inside the ecstatic Mets clubhouse.
Familia has clearly carried over his late season momentum into the playoffs. He has not allowed a single batter to reach base during 5.1 innings in the entire NLDS. It’s been 16 up and 16 down for the Dodgers facing him.
“We’ve got, in my opinion, if he’s not the best closer in the National League, he’s one of the best closers in all of baseball,” Terry Collins said after the game.
The scary part for the opposition is that Familia seems to keep getting better and better. Not only has be been unhittable in the postseason, but he had a 1.23 ERA over his last 29.2 regular season innings. He also developed a nasty new splitter that can reach up to 96 MPH.
“Tonight, when I went out there, I just tried to have fun and do my job,” a beer and champagne drenched Familia said afterward. “I wasn’t nervous.”
A lot of people have argued that he was the team’s MVP this season, and they have a pretty strong case. He saved 43 games and posted an outstanding 1.85 ERA with 86 strikeouts in 78 innings pitched.
The Mets have been searching for years for a shutdown closer like this, and now they finally have a great one in Familia.
