Mets ace has knee surgery

NEW YORK, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- New York Mets ace left-hander Johan Santana had surgery Wednesday to repair ligament damage in his left knee.

The team said on its Web site that he suffered the injury at some point before his three-hit shutout last Saturday against the Florida Marlins.

He had thrown a career-high 125 pitches against the Chicago Cubs on Sept. 23.

"He didn't tell many people," his agent, Chris Lieble, said. "But I knew (the knee) was bothering him pretty bad."

General Manager Omar Minaya said he was surprised by the need for the surgery, performed by Mets medical director David Altchek and club physician Struan Coleman at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan.

"If we knew what it was, maybe we would have said he shouldn't pitch," Minaya said.

Santana had a 16-7 record this season, but the Mets did not say if he would recover enough to pitch next season.

Also this week, another starter, right-hander John Maine, underwent right shoulder surgery.