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LexisNexis Feed Steve Popper, North Jersey Media Group, Herald News (Passaic County, NJ)
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Updated Mar 20, 2010 4:30 PM ET
     
 

Santana sharp

On a team with few sure things, Johan Santana is one of the no-worry pieces.

After a sluggish first effort this spring, the reliable and dominant Santana emerged Sunday, hurling four shutout innings and striking out four without a walk. With the season still a few weeks away, Santana said his fastball and change-up were in ready-for-primetime form, and with off-season elbow surgery behind him, he was able to throw an improved slider, adding another weapon to his arsenal. "Johan really pitched well," Jerry Manuel said. "I really like the fact that he?s throwing a slider. That was probably to me the most impressive thing."

"Every time you go out there you feel better about yourself and [build] confidence," Santana said. "That?s what we?re trying to do ? feel more comfortable, make sure you don?t feel anything in your arm." If the news of the improved slider wasn?t enough, Santana was joking about a knuckleball after the game. Don?t worry, hitters ? he said he doesn?t have the nails for it.

Bullpen addition

Kiko Calero made his debut with the Mets, a rocky inning in which he gave up an infield single, then hit a batter and gave up a walk. But he was confident that the slider, his go-to pitch, will improve.

The Mets got a solid inning of work from Ryota Igarashi. Pitching the eighth inning, he got a pop-out and a strikeout before a Mike Hessman error kept the inning going. He gave up a single, but got another pop-out to end the inning.

Lessons learned

Daniel Murphy spent time with Keith Hernandez before spring training, working on his defense at first base. It showed with a pretty double play in which he grabbed a grounder, got to the bag and then threw to second to finish off the play.

Tagged: Mets, Johan Santana

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