Dillon Gee’s struggles had been so deep, he called his mechanics “out of whack’’ and labeled himself “lost.”
But last night, he turned in his best start of the year for his first home win of the season, pitching the Mets to a 6-1 win over San Diego.
The right-hander struck out a career-high nine batters in a season-high seven innings, winning back-to-back starts for the first time in almost a year, and even doubled and scored the go-ahead run.
Whatever Gee (4-3) had lost, he found after the first inning, slowing down his delivery and shutting down the Padres.
“My mechanics have been all out of whack,’’ said Gee, 26. “I’m not out there throwing 95, so I rely on my mechanics to get me through games. Lately I was up in [the] zone a lot, mechanically I just felt out of whack, out of sync.
“My right foot didn’t know what my left foot was doing. I just felt lost, really, to be honest. I’ve been searching for the past couple weeks. Sometimes the best medicine is to put everything down and say ‘Screw it’, go out there the next day.’’
Gee — thrust into the fourth starter role afterMike Pelfrey’s season-ending injury — was 2-3 with a 5.65 ERA through his first seven starts. But he bounced back with a win at Toronto, which was followed by last night’s gem.
He got a great catch against the wall that was turned into a double play by left fielder Mike Baxter in the first and, after the inning, pitching coach Dan Warthen told Gee to slow down his delivery. He proceeded to throw six straight scoreless innings.
After walking Chase Headley in the seventh and falling behind John Baker 1-0, catcher Rob Johnson went to the mound and reiterated the same advice, to stay back and not get so far out in front with his delivery. Gee proceeded to strike out the side.
“The mental side of that is you continue to fight, [think] I’m not throwing strikes, I’ve got to throw harder,” said Johnson. “The mental stuff is slow your body down, regain your thoughts and make your pitch.
“The natural thought is go harder, instead of going easier. Less is more. But I reminded him ... stay back over the rubber and come to me. And he made a beautiful adjustment.’’
brian.lewis@nypost.com
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