NEW YORK (AP) -Orlando Hernandez threw a pain-free bullpen session Tuesday that left him very encouraged about his injured right foot.
One day after the boot protecting his sore foot was removed, El Duque worked off a mound at Shea Stadium and estimated he threw 50-60 pitches. The New York Mets’ right-hander said he used all his pitches and felt no pain at all.
“I threw very good today,” he said.
Asked if his command was good, a smiling and enthusiastic Hernandez said: “Yes! A no-hitter!”
If he feels OK on Wednesday, the next step is for El Duque to pitch a simulated game Thursday. But it’s unclear if he could return to the rotation or pitch in relief before the regular season ends Sunday.
“We don’t even know if he’s going to pitch,” New York manager Willie Randolph said. “Right now, I’m not looking at where he might fit in. Until he’s healthy and ready to go, he’s not really in the mix for me.”
The Mets entered Tuesday night’s game against Washington with a two-game lead over Philadelphia in the NL East and a magic number of five. They’re trying to lock up their second consecutive division title, which would be a franchise first, but it’s been a struggle of late.
Hernandez hasn’t pitched since giving up six hits and a season-high eight runs over three-plus innings in a 13-5 loss to Atlanta on Sept. 11. He has worked just six-plus innings since Aug. 26.
The 41-year-old Hernandez, an outstanding postseason pitcher throughout his major league career, is 9-5 with a 3.75 ERA this season. He missed the playoffs last year with a torn right calf muscle.
“He could play an important role. But right now you can only count on the guys who are ready to go,” Mets general manager Omar Minaya said. “We definitely are not going to put him in a situation where he’s not 100 percent ready to go.”
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