Padilla Records First Major League Save
Right-handed reliever throws 1 1/3 scoreless innings

07/20/2005 11:45 PM ET
By Ben Couch / MLB.com

NEW YORK -- Juan Padilla got dressed casually, in no hurry to go anywhere, and still managed to finish before the media surged out of Willie Randolph's office and swarmed the main part of the Mets' locker room Wednesday night.

The media went right past Padilla to stake out the lockers of more recognizable Mets like Tom Glavine and Mike Piazza while they were showering.

That they didn't stop for Padilla meant one thing -- the reliever had done his job.

The righty relieved Aaron Heilman on Wednesday with two outs, the bases loaded and the tying run at the plate.

One Mark Sweeney fly out later, the Mets' 7-3 lead against the Padres was safe. One scoreless inning later, Padilla had earned his first Major League save.

It was his second appearance with the Mets, after pitching a scoreless inning against the Braves on July 15.

"I felt a little bit anxious, just trying to finish the game," Padilla said. "I was in a save situation -- and I've been doing that a long time, but this was the first one in the big leagues, so I guess I was a little bit anxious. My fastball was running a lot, moving a lot, so I didn't have control of that, but I came back and got the outs."

Padilla also got the game ball, which he plans to place on his mantle alongside balls signed by notable Yankee relievers Mariano Rivera and Rich "Goose" Gossage.

Padilla's four scoreless outs allowed manager Willie Randolph to save the arms of go-to relievers Braden Looper and Roberto Hernandez. Looper pitched two innings Tuesday and Hernandez had pitched 4 1/3 innings in the Mets' last five games before Wednesday.

Randolph had Hernandez up and throwing in the bullpen when Heilman began to struggle, but was hoping to avoid using his setup man.

"But I'm going to try to win the game," Randolph said. "That's why I had Roberto going. You like to always save something for later, but we're in no position to start saving too much if we can win games."

Padilla got the outs he needed to close out the game -- ending it by inducing a 6-4-3 double play -- and Hernandez was appreciative.

"To give [Looper and me] a breather, it was big," Hernandez said. "We're going to need everybody down the stretch -- it ain't just gonna be a two-man show. We need everybody to start stepping up and kicking in."

Two appearances into his Mets career, Padilla is doing his part.