The Justice

Media Credit: Bill Kositroun/The Associated Press Pitcher Nelson Figueroa '96 starts for the New York?Mets April 19 against the Milwaukee Brewers at Citi Field in New York. The Mets lost 4-2.

FLUSHING, N.Y.-Former Brandeis baseball star Nelson Figueroa '96 made his 2009 Major League Baseball debut with the New York Mets at the brand new Citi Field against the Milwaukee Brewers April 19. The 35-year-old, who returned to the Major Leagues briefly last season after a three-year hiatus, allowed three earned runs on five hits in six innings pitched while also recording three strikeouts. The Mets lost the game 4-2, almost exactly a year since Figueroa's Mets' debut last season April 11, 2008. On that day, he was recalled to face the same Brewers club at the old Shea Stadium, pitching six innings, allowing two earned runs on just two hits while striking out six batters for the victory. Figueroa was recalled before the April 19 game this season from the Mets' Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo, N.Y. to replace New York's injured pitcher Mike Pelfrey.

Figueroa spoke with justSports after the game to discuss his thoughts on his most recent appearance, his experiences in the World Baseball Classic last March--where he threw 7 1/3 scoreless innings for Puerto Rico-and throwing nine hitless innings for Lara in the Venezuelan Winter League playoffs last January, in a game in which his team was stuck in a scoreless tie going into an extra 10th inning when Figueroa gave up his first hit but won the game 1-0.

Since the interview, Figueroa was designated for assignment by the Mets. After clearing waivers, Figueroa opted for free agency but ultimately re-signed with the organization last Friday. He is now back at Triple-A Buffalo, where he is 0-0 with a 3.00 ERA in two starts this season. Figueroa has a career major league mark of 10-21 with a 4.63 ERA in 91 appearances since 2000.

JustSports: So, you guys obviously came up with the loss today, but you had a quality start: six innings, three earned runs. What were your thoughts on the game today?

Nelson Figueroa: I felt good. I made that one mistake to [Brewers center fielder Mike] Cameron, [who hit a solo home run in the sixth inning], and the Brewers did a good job of manufacturing the first two runs: Getting the guy over and getting the guy in from third base. But when the big guys came up and they had a chance to do some real damage, I was able to make some good pitches and get out of it.

JS: How was this start different from your start against Milwaukee from last year?

NF: I think last year was a chance of getting back for the first time and being in the big leagues again and being a Met for the first time. I think this time I knew [it] was going to be a spot start. You know Pelfrey is going to miss one time through the rotation, and in audition to be the long man, [I can] show what I can do over an extended period of time. Hopefully it pans out, but you gotta take these things one day at a time. I felt like I did a good enough job.

JS: Why do you think [Mets manager Jerry Manuel] chose you over [a younger prospect like] Jon Niese for a game like today?

NF: I think the right-handed-heavy lineup that they have and my success against them last year gave me the opportunity to come up and really try and give us a chance to win a ballgame, and I felt like I did that. We came up on the short end of the stick, but next time we'll turn the tables on that.

JS: When you're down in the minor leagues, how much are you following the professional club, and how much are you just focused on yourself and your own performances?

NF: I think down at the Triple-A level you really just need to focus on yourself and your team down there, because the better that your team does down there, [the more it] looks good for you. So if you all put up numbers collectiv­­ely, then the manager [and] the front office staff [will] look down [and say], "Hey, we're gonna look at Triple-A, they're a winning team, they win together, and, you know, who's the best pitcher on [the team] at that time?" You always try to put your name in the forefront.

JS: You had a very busy offseason. What was it like playing in the World Baseball Classic for Puerto Rico and doing so against some of your Met teammates?

NF: It was a tremendous honor to represent Puerto Rico and play in the [World Baseball Classic], I think, a chance to compete in spring training and show what I was able to do in a playoff-type atmosphere. Every game was kind of a seventh-game-of-the- World Series feeling to me, so to show that, I felt like it was going to be more influential for me to make the team.

JS: And I also have to ask about that start you had in the Venezuelan Winter League-nine hitless innings, but losing the no-hitter in an extra 10th inning because the game was scoreless after nine innings. What was that like for you?

NF: Oh, it was awesome. To have a chance to throw a no-hitter and it didn't count, it was tough, but the atmosphere there in Venezuela, you know it's in their playoffs. To have my first start go that well was tremendous. I wish I could have had a 10-inning no-hitter, but I'll settle for the nine no-hit innings and the victory.

Watch the entire interview below, courtesy of WBRS:

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