Mets lose close game vs. Phils
After the Philadelphia Phillies took a 4-0 lead, the Mets stormed right back and tied the game. The Phils later took a 6-5 lead and Brad Lidge picked up the save after getting into early trouble in the ninth. Eric Bruntlett, who has filled in for Jimmy Rollins since he was knocked out in a series against the Mets at Shea recently, was very shaky when he first took Rollins’ position, but now apparantely has found his groove as he made a diving stop to save and end the game on national television, 6-5.
Mets starter Mike Pelfrey was shaky throughout his five innings pitched, and I’m surprised that he didn’t give up more runs because he gave up ten hits. Pedro Feliciano gave up a run in the eighth that ended up being the deciding run.
For the Phils, So Taguchi just may be the world’s worst outfielder. After botching a play the other night, he was unable to make a catch last night. He has repeatedly failed in the outfield, dropping fly balls, slipping, and anything else that you could think of.
Speaking of outfield, Endy Chavez came off the bench to start and delivered an amazing gun to Jose Reyes, who relayed the ball to second to throw out Pat Burrell by a mile trying to stretch a single into a double. Rememeber, though, Burrell has a long, long, swing and stands there to look pretty for the cameras on his base-hit follow throughs.
Jose Reyes continued to star, hitting his second triple of the season last night and finishing the night 2-4. Luis Castillo’s swing is very much like Tony Gwynn’s, as he slaps the ball to the opposite field and comes up with base hits easily. He had an RBI and went 1-5. Ryan Church kept getting those RBIs. He had another, which raised his total to eleven RBIs on the season.
Next Mets Test
The Mets will begin a quick two-game series tonight in Chicago with the Cubs, followed by a day game tomorrow. Following the second game, the Mets will fly to Washington and begin ANOTHER quick two-game series, this time with the Washington Nationals.
Mets take first two of three vs. rival Phils
Jose Reyes hit a home run and David Wright had a two-run double as the Mets soared past the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park, 4-2.
Oliver Perez never allowed a run in his 5.2 innings, racking up seven strikeouts and walking five. The bullpen was used heavily yet again, as six more pitchers followed Perez. Scott Schoeneweis and Joe Smith gave up a run apiece, cutting the lead in half. Aaron Heilman got himself out of big trouble with a strikeout in the eighth, while Billy Wagner snatched his fourth save of the season.
The first three batters in the Mets lineup (Reyes, Church & Wright) each had two hits in the game, while the seventh, eighth, and ninth hitters in the lineup (Schneider, Castillo, Perez) all had one hit apiece.
I never realized how much better of a catcher in terms of receiving the ball Paul Lo Duca was over Brian Schneider. Unlike most catchers, Schneider doesn’t frame the ball correctly. The act of framing the pitch means that the catcher tries to fool the umpire by making the pitch look like a strike. Not necessarily bringing the pitch back into the strike zone, but putting the glove at an angle that makes the ball appear to be more of a strike. Instead of holding the glove up strong on pitches that are a bit low or outside, Schneider just drops the glove and drives the ball out of the zone, which nearly always results in an umpire calling a ball, because how could that be a strike? Because of Schneider, there were more balls called than there should have been yesterday.
On the other hand, I do not like sidearm pitchers because they have zero accuracy. Joe Smith and Pedro Feliciano often get behind hitters too often and end up walking too many batters. It seems the only time they don’t walk a batter is because the batter is silly enough to swing at the pitch. If batters do not swing at sidearm pitchers, I guarantee it will be a walk on four pitches more often than not. Sidearm pitchers just do not have the accuracy.
Next Mets Test
The Mets will face the Phillies on national television tonight at Citizens Bank Park at 8 pm to play the final game of this three-game series. Following the game, the team will fly to Chicago to play a quick two-game series against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
Pre Game: Mets vs. Phils
In game two of a three-game series, the Mets and division rival Philadelphia Phillies will clash on FOX, with a first pitch scheduled to be at 3:55 p.m.
Today’s Mets Lineup:
Jose Reyes SS
Ryan Church RF
David Wright 3B
Carlos Beltran CF
Carlos Delgado 1B
Angel Pagan LF
Brian Schneider C
Luis Castillo 2B
Oliver Perez (1-0) vs. Jamie Moyer (1-0)
I’ll be keeping a close eye on Jose Reyes and his head injury from last night. He may be playing, but it just might be hurting him to put him in the lineup today. I’m not sure how Beltran will do with the stiff neck, but if either one of these players suffer and it shows during the game, I’ll be mad at Willie. I know, I know, it is a rivalry game, but you’d rather have these guys miss one day rather than seven.
Johan, Mets take opener vs. rival Phils
Mets ace Johan Santana needed to bounce back from back-to-back losses, including a game in which he was booed off his own field. He did just that. Santana pitched a very strong seven innings, striking out ten and walking none as the Mets went on to win, 6-4.
Following Santana came Heilman, who has been going down, up, and down all month. He was horrible, giving up a pinch-hit, three-run home run to Greg Dobbs as soon as he came in. He only was able to get two outs in the eighth inning before Willie Randolph made a bullpen move for Pedro Feliciano, who was perfect. Billy Wagner came in for the eighth and closed the door – or should I say slammed the door because of his 99-mph heater – as he snatched his third save of the season.
At the plate, David Wright was a homer away from the cycle, hitting a single, two doubles, and a triple. Jose Reyes went hitless, but scored a run. If you look at the post below this one, you can read about what happened to him when he slid into second on a steal. Beltran came back following some time off due to a stiff neck, which he says is still stiff, and went hitless. Carlos Delgado had a great night at the plate even going hitless. He had a nice sac-fly later in the game and had 2 RBIs.
Brian Schneider continues to prove me wrong with his hitting ability, going 3-4 with an RBI.
The Mets have the Fox Saturday afternoon game beginning at 4 pm today.
Jose Reyes injury scare
He is still in the game, but I wouldnt’ be surprised if this affects him tomorrow. Mets SS Jose Reyes slid into second head-first on a steal like usual, which is quite dangerous, and his head slammed into the knee of Chase Utley, who was covering the bag. Reyes was examined quickly by Mets trainer Ray Ramirez and manager Willie Randolph.