WASHINGTON — Fernando Salas threw an 89-mile-per-hour fastball down the heart of the plate, which is asking for trouble against a power-hitting catcher such as Wilson Ramos of the Washington Nationals. The ball flew high and deep to the left-center-field seats, and Ramos started a slow trot near home plate to watch the flight.
The Mets traded for Salas, a right-handed reliever, late on Aug. 31, hoping that they had added another reliable arm to their bullpen. Salas was just that, not having allowed a run in his first six appearances as a Met.