Quotes & comments from Hefner's outing on Saturday

In yesterday's 2-0 loss to the Blue Jays, Jeremy Hefner allowed two runs and four hits with five strikeouts in five innings of relief of Miguel Batista, who left the game after the second inning due to a muscle strain in his back.

Hefner faced 19 batters and threw 65 pitches, 43 of which were strikes, but took the loss after allowing two runs in the fifth inning yesterday.

'I'm disappointed in [the fifth inning],' Hefner told reporters after the game. 'I got out of my mechanics a little bit and left a few balls up and they got a couple of runs,' said Hefner, who surrendered two runs in five innings. 'I got a few strikeouts and just tried to keep the ball down and make them hit it into the ground. It's a quick field, so if they get it in the gaps, it's extra bases for sure.'

Hefner has now made two relief appearances in his big league career, and is 0-1 with a 2.25 ERA in eight innings.

'I applaud the job Jeremy Hefner did, coming here this morning and giving us that outing, it was tremendous,' Terry Collins said after the game.

Collins also said Hefner would start in Batista's place on Thursday, should Batista be unavailable.

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Michael Baron: It's hard to say right now if Hefner is any kind of short-term or long-term solution for this team, but he looked good in Spring Training, has pitched well for Triple-A Buffalo this season, and has been an element of stability in two stints with the Mets so far this year. Yesterday he threw strikes with four pitches: a fastball, curveball, slider, and change-up. He actually threw his curveball and slider more than his fastball, but that's a recipe for success against the Blue Jays, who routinely crush fastballs.

Hefner's curveball has been particularly impressive in his two appearances with the Mets. It is a classic 12-6 curveball but he has the ability to center the pitch and then drop it through the strike zone to nick the outside corner in the lower part of the strike zone. As is the case with Jon Niese and the cutter, it would be wise not to fall in love with that pitch, but as long as he can throw his other pitches for strikes in any count, the curveball can be a formidable weapon for him.