Stroman takes matters into own (bare) hand

PITTSBURGH -- Mets manager Mickey Callaway said Friday that Marcus Stroman has “such good body control” and that things synch up well for the energetic righty when he’s on the mound.

Callaway was talking about Stroman’s pitching ability, but he might as well have been talking about his fielding prowess after the defensive gem the former Gold Glove Award winner made in the first inning of his debut in the Mets’ 7-5 win over the Pirates on Saturday night at PNC Park.

Things started in frustrating fashion for Stroman, who gave up four consecutive singles before recording his first out as a Met. He then walked Jose Osuna with the bases loaded to score the Pirates’ second run and bring up Kevin Newman.

Newman hit a 64.3-mph dribbler toward third base, forcing Stroman to dash off the mound in pursuit. With Starling Marte charging home, Stroman -- a multisport athlete growing up -- ranged to his right, barehanded the ball and fired off-balance to home, getting a much-needed forceout.

“Best play I’ve ever seen a pitcher make,” said Callaway, a former Major League pitcher and pitching coach. “After he made that play, he settled in nicely and threw the ball well.”

Jacob Stallings flied out the next at-bat to get Stroman out of the first inning -- one in which the bullpen began to warm -- having allowed two runs on 35 pitches. But Stroman settled in as the game progressed, finishing with three runs allowed and three strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings. He pointed back to that play as a bit of a push for him to battle through his outing.

“I think it kind of gave me a little bit of momentum and confidence, too,” Stroman said. “I thought I was making some good pitches and they were putting some good swings on balls, but I feel like with my sinker, I’m a double play away at any point in any game. So if I execute my pitches like I didn’t today, I think I’ll be able to go deeper.”