When Billy Wagner took the mound in the ninth inning last night, Mets starter Brian Lawrence was reminded of all those times former teammate Trevor Hoffman took the hill for San Diego.
“It’s the same situation here: Usually when a guy of that stature comes in the game, it’s game over,” said Lawrence, a Padre from 2001-05.
Last night, Wagner wasn’t his usual dominant self, and his two-run ninth cost Lawrence a second straight victory. Nevertheless, the Mets’ dispiriting 4-3 loss to Florida didn’t eliminate a quality start from Lawrence, who allowed two runs on eight hits over six innings.
“You can’t feel good about losing,” Lawrence said, “but you feel good about going out there and giving the team a chance to win.”
Lawrence’s second start with the Mets was his second major-league appearance since 2005. He had surgery to repair a labrum tear in his shoulder in February 2006, and he spent most of this season in Triple-A New Orleans.
Aug. 2 in Milwaukee, the 31-year-old righty earned the win in the Mets’ 12-4 victory by allowing three runs on eight hits over five innings. Here, he was even better, settling in after allowing runs in the first two innings.
“Missing a year like I did, every start I’m going to have more confidence,” Lawrence said. “Not only with myself, but knowing I belong again and can get outs.
“The shoulder’s getting better, too, as the year progresses. I feel like next year’s going to be better than this year.”
The Marlins had a chance to do some lethal damage in the second, but Lawrence escaped with a few paper cuts despite allowing four hits.
Three straight singles gave Florida a 2-0 lead, but that’s where the rally stalled. Miguel Olivo tried to advance from second to third on a ball that briefly eluded Paul Lo Duca, but he was instead caught in a rundown for the first out.
“That changes things a lot,” Lawrence said. “I know I had given up a run anyway, but . . . it’s a big turning point in our favor.”
The opposing starter, Daniel Barone, struck out trying to bunt for the second out. And although Hanley Ramirez walked and Alejandro De Aza singled to load the bases, Lawrence induced a check-swing comebacker from Miguel Cabrera on a slider and ran over to the first-base bag on the way into the dugout.
Lawrence allowed two more hits the rest of the way.
“I didn’t really change a lot,” said Lawrence, who played off Florida’s aggressiveness. “I got through those two, and then things started going my way.”
