Mets P Santana has knee surgery

Oct 1, 2008 - 5:53 PM FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- The New York Mets questioned whether Johan Santana's arm would hold up to pitching on three days' rest. Perhaps they should have been more concerned with the ace's knee.

Santana underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee Wednesday, four days after he nearly single-handedly saved the Mets' season.

According to the Mets, Santana suffered the injury prior to Saturday's game against the Florida Marlins.

But that did not stop Santana, who openly requested to pitch on three days' rest, from pitching a three-hitter in a 2-0 victory that drew the Mets even in the National League wild card standings.

New York dropped a 4-2 decision to Florida the following day, allowing the Milwaukee Brewers to win the wild card.

Santana, 28, underwent the procedure at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan and is expected to be ready for spring training. The operation was performed by Mets medical director Dr. David Altchek and team physician Dr. Struan Coleman.

Acquired in a blockbuster offseason deal with the Minnesota Twins, Santana enjoyed a successful first year with the Mets, going 16-7 with a career-best 2.53 ERA. The lefthander had 206 strikeouts in a career-high 234 1/3 innings.

However, Santana's most impressive accomplishment this season may have occurred this past weekend, when his arm - and evidently his knee - withstood a grueling five-day stretch.

With New York's playoff hopes fading due to a faulty bullpen, Santana threw 117 pitches Saturday - four days after tossing 125 pitches in his eight-inning outing against the Chicago Cubs. It marked the first time in his nine-year career that Santana pitched consecutive regular-season starts on three days' rest.