- July
- 31
The Mets hit two home runs, but it wasn’t enough to top the Diamondbacks as they lost 3-2. Livan Hernandez had his best outing in a while but allowed two solo home runs. He pitched six innings and was pulled for a pinch hitter with bases loaded. Angel Berroa grounded out to quash the potential rally.
David Wright and Daniel Murphy provided all the offense as they both hit solo home runs. Their shots were two of only four hits the Mets had all night. The Mets had one last gasp thanks to a dropped ball by Mark Reynolds in the bottom of the ninth, but Angel Pagan grounded out into a double play. He went 0-5.
The game was tied up 2-2 in the eighth as Sean Green came into the game after Pedro Feliciano allowed a leadoff walk. Green then proceeded to hit the next batter and walked another, loading the bases. He then induced a double play. Against the next batter, he threw the ball into the dirt that got away from Omir Santos and allowed a run to score.
It was a poor way to start their second straight four-game series against a sub-.500 team. Oliver Perez will take the mound Saturday night.
Jerry Manuel said in his post-game interview that although Gary Sheffield is scheduled to come off the disabled list, he might not play until Sunday. This comes on the heels of the news that Jose Reyes suffered a setback in his rehab. He was scheduled to run the bases yesterday but did not. Some days he feels good and some days he doesn’t, general manager Omar Minaya said. Today, he didn’t feel good.
Billy Wagner, on the other hand, pitched a scoreless inning against Minor Leaguers in Port St. Lucie. He struck out two and induced a ground ball. His fast ball clocked in around 94 mph.
Posted by James Kwasnik on Friday, July 31st, 2009 at 11:19 pm |
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- July
- 30
The Mets succumbed to the curse of the double header and couldn’t finish the sweep of the Rockies. Jonathon Niese started off well, pitching five solid innings before allowing a run in the sixth. The Mets held the Rockies to 27 2/3 scoreless innings.
It really fell apart in the seventh as Niese weakened visibly, allowing a two-run home run to Clint Barmes. He then allowed a double. With one out in the inning, Brian Stokes came into the game and gave up an uncharacteristic triple to Troy Tulowitzki for the fourth run. That would be all the Rockies would need as the Mets offense wasn’t as potent as it had been the rest of the series.
The Mets had a chance to take the lead in the first inning after Angel Pagan started off with a leadoff double. Pagan then stole third. Luis Castillo walked, but David Wright struck out. With Jeff Francoeur at the plate, Pagan was caught trying to steal home.
They scored their first run in the fourth inning after Wright hit a double, stole third and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Francoeur. They would not score another run until Fernando Tatis’s solo shot in the seventh inning. It was his second home run of the series, including the grand slam. Tatis also made an amazing catch in the top of the seventh to save a run for Niese.
So, the Mets lost the game, but they won the series. They are now six games out of the Wild Card race. After facing two red-hot teams in a row, they’ll now take on the rather cool Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres. Hopefully, they’ll be able to make up more ground in the next two series. Livan Hernandez pitches Friday night.
Posted by James Kwasnik on Thursday, July 30th, 2009 at 10:56 pm |
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- July
- 30
Angel Pagan CF
Alex Cora 2B
David Wright 3B
Daniel Murphy 1B
Jeff Francoeur RF
Cory Sullivan LF
Omir Santos C
Angel Berroa SS
Johan Santana (11-8, 3.12 ERA) P
Top 1: Santana looks pretty good in the first. He retired the side in order. Robinson Cancel has been brought up from Triple-A to be a backup catcher to Santos. Brian Schneider is not on the disabled list, but he is hurt. To make room for Cancel, Elmer Dessens has been designated for assignment. Cancel performed pretty well the last time he was called up.
Bottom 1: Pagan grounds out. Cora singles. Cora is in for Luis Castillo who went to be with his wife as she gives birth to their new baby. Congratulations to the Castillos on their soon-to-be new arrival. Cora thrown out at second. Wright flies out. He hit it well but not hard enough.
Top 2: Santana strikes out two and again retires the side in order. He’s looking really sharp right now. It’s time for the offense to kick it in gear.
More after the jump.
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Posted by James Kwasnik on Thursday, July 30th, 2009 at 11:31 am |
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- July
- 29
So what if the Indians traded left-handed pitcher Cliff Lee and outfielder Ben Francisco to the Phillies for pitching prospects Jason Knapp and Carlos Carrasco, as well as shortstop Jason Donald and catcher Lou Marson?
Those trades won’t affect how the Mets have to play in the here and now. They don’t even face the Phillies again for a month. What’s important for the Mets right now is to keep winning. They shouldn’t be focused on winning the division. They need to focus on winning the Wild Card, and they’re closer to accomplishing that goal. The Mets are now 5 1/5 games behind the leader, the Rockies. With Johan Santana on the mound tonight, they could pull within 4 1/2.
Forget the Phillies. Let them trade until the cows come home. The Mets are 10 1/2 games out of first place, and the Phils can’t seem to stop winning anyway. The Marlins and Braves, two of the six teams ahead of them in the Wild Card race, are within reach, however. The Mets need to continue pitching well, play good defense and keep the hitting hot. That’s the formula for success and run into the post-season. And if the Phillies have a meltdown in the meantime, all the better.
Posted by James Kwasnik on Wednesday, July 29th, 2009 at 4:35 pm |
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