Mets' Paul Blackburn Aces First Spring has started in “huge day” since a creepy injury

Port st. Lucie – after a complicated – and scary – injury, Paul Blackburn's return was uncomplicated.

He started the 4-1 defeat of the METS grapefruit league against the Marlins on Wednesday and threw a clean 1-2-3 inn with a strike and two floor runs.

It marked its first excursion since he suffered a leak of the Cerebrospinal fluid at the end of last season and underwent surgery – in the doctor's bone spur around a capsule in his spine, which pierces, drilled the spine fluid and sewed the capsule in October.

Blackburn only needed seven parking spaces – all strikes.

The plan was for an inning, so that his faster frame prompted him to throw 15 more parking spaces in the bullpen in order to get to the desired workload of the team for him.

“Huge day,” said manager Carlos Mendoza. “It is a big day for him, it is a big day for us, because it wasn't easy what he was going through. It was quite scary when he got the news. And the fact that it is not even March – just an inning today, but he is in the live competition and stands in front of another team. Huge step for him, proud of him. It means a lot that he appears in the games so early. “

Frankie Montas (Lat -Stamm) and Sean Manaea (weird stem) injuries have stuck Blackburn in the mixture to earn a rotation point.

The METS acquired the 31-year-old Blackburn shortly before the closure of the trade last year in return for the pitching view of Minor League, Kade Morris.

In five starts with the Mets, he recorded an ERA of 5.18 before it was closed.

“Before the game, I was the normal jitter and a little scared, just start, some excitement,” said Blackburn. “I have the feeling that today was a good step in the right direction.

“I feel good. I feel good out there, I have the feeling that I have the feeling that I can turn things like normally. Everything feels good out there. “

Kodai Senga, Clay Holmes and David Peterson seem to be locks for the rotation. Blackburn, Tylor Megill and Griffin Canning remains as the next candidates who fight for the last two jobs in the staff. Neither Megill nor Canning saw a game campaign this spring.

Wednesday was a strong start for Blackburn to claim one of these places.

“I'm very excited about this year – somehow from last year behind me,” said Blackburn. “Feel the way I am in a good place.”