Just as Mets pitching was the highlight of the first game against the Cincinnati Reds on Monday, tonight’s game was the opposite. Starter Mike Pelfrey barely got out of the fifth inning and took more than 100 pitches to do it.
Pelfrey allowed four runs in the first inning without recording an out. He threw 44 pitches and walked three batters, one intentionally. He had four walks total.
The Mets bullpen, which shone so brightly in the first game, kept fans on the edge of their seats today. Pedro Feliciano gave up two runs in the seventh and set-up man JJ Putz allowed one in the eighth.
Frankie Rodriguez clearly didn’t have his best stuff in the ninth but he managed to get out of a bases-loaded jam. He walked two batters. It was the ninth Mets walk of the night.
Despite the shaky pitching, the Mets bats were alive with a little help from some shoddy Reds defense. Carlos Delgado had his first home run of the season with a two-run bomb in the first. He had two hits and four RBI for the game, which lasted more than four hours.
Brian Schneider was credited with a double in the fifth inning after Reds right fielder Jay Bruce slipped on the grass and missed the ball. That fall led to three RBI and could’ve been scored as an error.
There was another questionable call in the bottom of the ninth, with the Reds threatening. A routine ground ball to third ended up being an error on Delgado after the umpire said he didn’t keep his foot on first base after receiving the throw from David Wright. That allowed runners on first and third base.
But K-Rod was able to shut the Reds down despite a bases-loaded situation. So, today he earned his contract. Even though he caused nervousness, the result was a save. That’s gotta make you feel good, right? RIGHT?
Oliver Perez takes the mound Thursday afternoon. Will he pitch well? Flip a coin.
