The New York Mets are in a heated battled for the top spot in the National League East. The Mets are currently in third place, five games behind the first place Washington Nationals and a half game behind the second place Miami Marlins.
One reason the Mets have remained near the top of the division is their bullpen and specifically Jeurys Familia. The Mets closer is unstoppable when it comes to saves.
On Friday night, the New York Mets defeated the Miami Marlins 5-3 in south Florida. Familia came on in relief and notched his 50th straight regular season save.
Terry Collins the Mets manager called the feat unbelievable. He added that when a pitcher takes the mound in a save opportunity the player needs a great deal of confidence and Familia has that, as does Collins in him.
Familia now is only one save behind third on the all time list of 51 consecutive saves held by Jose Valverde. Second on the all time consecutive saves lists at 54 is Tom Gordon.
The all time record is off in the distance at 84 consecutive saves, which is held by Eric Gagne who broke the previous record between 2002 and 2004.
Familia did not have the best of form on Friday. He came holding a lead of three runs but allowed a double to the first batter he faced. Of course, the hit was lost by Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes in the lights. He walked the next batter. He surrendered a two out single that knocked in a run, which was the first run Familia has allowed since early June.
However, Familia regrouped and induced a ground ball for the third out with two men on base.
The slight blemish to the almost perfect season thus far of Familia was a lead of four runs he squandered on May 27 to the Dodgers. It however did not go in the official records as a blown save because when he entered it was not considered a save opportunity due to the lead of four runs.
The Mets won the game in the bottom of the inning with a walk off home run.
This season Familia leads all closers with 34 saves.
