
Jose Quintana’s July 4 start a meaningful moment for Mets hurler
NY Post
WASHINGTON — Jose Quintana had pitched on the Fourth of July previously in his career, but never as a U.S. citizen.
The veteran left-hander, a Colombian who became a U.S. citizen this year during spring training, savored the day.
He also almost saved the day with a superb pitching performance in the Mets’ 1-0 loss to the Nationals.
“A lot of my teammates said ‘Congratulations’ and ‘I’m happy for you,’ ” Quintana said of his first Independence Day as a U.S. citizen. “It means a lot for me and my family.”
With an 11:05 a.m. first pitch, Quintana was forced to alter his routine of sleeping until 9 in the morning.
He said he was awake by 7 and ate breakfast by 7:30.

Suddenly, someone had hit a rewind button and everyone had been transported back seven months. It was early spring instead of late fall, it was broiling hot outside the arena walls and not freezing cold. Everyone was back at TD Garden. There were 19,156 frenzied fans on their feet begging for blood, poised for the kill.












