We have some post game audio from Bobby Parnell and Jerry Manuel after the Mets 9-0 win over the Cardinals. Here’s Parnell talking about his game and the injury to Jon Niese:
The Mets broke out the bats for this one and rocked the Cardinals before leaving for San Diego today. The bad news is that they lost two more players in the process. Jon Niese started the game and went 1.2 innings only giving up 1 hit and 1 walk. But in the second inning he was covering first base on a ground ball and appeared to be hurt badly. He went into the splits with his front leg slipping in the dirt. He attempted to throw a pitch to test the leg and went down in a heap on the mound. And he was carried off the field by the trainers. It looked pretty serious.
Gary Sheffield left the game in the bottom of the sixth inning after hitting a ball to the wall in left center. It looked like an easy double but Sheffield stopped at first base and immediately walked off the field. Apparently, his right hamstring was bothering him again.
The Mets got some outstanding offense for a change. They were all over Kyle Lohse for 5 of their 9 runs. He couldn’t make it out of the third inning. David Wright and Angel Pagan did the most damage getting three hits apiece and both homered in the game.
Nelson Figueroa got another chance today and made the most of it going 4.1 scoreless innings in relief of Niese. Bobby Parnell then came in and threw 3 scoreless innings. After the game, Jerry Manuel said that they’re stretching Parnell out in anticipation that he’ll be moving to the rotation.
The Mets leave for San Diego feeling a little better about themselves after taking a beating at home by the D-Backs and splitting the two-game series with the Cardinals.
St. Louis Cardinals (59-50 Road: 28-27) at New York Mets (50-56 Home: 29-25) 12:10pm
Kyle Lohse (4-6 4.14) vs. Jon Niese (1-1 4.50)
TV: SNY
What to watch: The Mets attempt to recover from another devastating loss last night with Niese on the mound early today. He got beat up by the Rockies in his last start for 4 runs over 6.1 innings. It’s likely that the Mets will be without another regular today, Luis Castillo. It looked like his ankle was sprained badly after falling down the dugout steps last night. Lohse hasn’t been terrible for the Cardinals but they have lost the last five games that he started. So there is hope for this downtrodden Mets team.
Don’t forget to visit The Mets Report Live Game Chat during the game to chat with other Mets fans!
The Mets continue to sink to new lows not seen since the Art Howe/Steve Phillips administration. It’s the same old story when Johan Santana pitches. He goes 8 strong innings, getting a big 2 RBI double along the way, making two great plays in the field. He’s trying to drag the Mets kicking and screaming to a win but they’ll have none of that.
The Mets even got some big offense tonight off Joel Pineiro. They got 15 hits and 4 walks in the game, usually enough to win a game that Santana is pitching. But not tonight.
Albert Pujols dropped two bombs on the Mets including a grand slam in the tenth inning to torch the Mets for good. The bullpen was atrocious with Francisco Rodriguez blowing a rare save opportunity. Pedro Feliciano and Sean Green were out there throwing batting practice when Green wasn’t hitting Yadier Molina to bring the leading run home.
To add insult to another injury, Luis Castillo appears to have badly sprained his ankle falling down the dugout steps in the eighth inning. Of course, one of the only players performing admirably on the active roster goes down. Of course.
The ugly Mets continue to get uglier right before our eyes.
The Daily News is reporting that Jose Reyes is still having pain in his right leg while rehabbing in Port St. Lucie. He flew back to New York to be examined, again, by Mets team doctors.
I know that some have advocated for the injured Mets players to just shut it down for the season. And I recognize that there isn’t any point in coming back to make a playoff push for this season. That ship has sailed.
I would like to point out that if the injured Mets are ready to play that it would put a much better product on the field. Although the purpose of playing the season is to win, the Mets are also a business. Putting fannies in the seats and viewers on TV comes a close second to winning championships for the team. If the Mets can get Carlos Delgado, Carlos Beltran, and Reyes back on the field in September they should do it. At least give us a quality product to watch, even if the season is a goner.
St. Louis Cardinals (58-50 Road: 27-27) at New York Mets (50-55 Home: 29-24) 7:10pm
Joel Pineiro (9-9 2.84) vs. Johan Santana (12-8 2.96)
TV: SNY
What to watch: The Mets and Cardinals start a two-game series tonight at Citi Field. At least Santana is pitching tonight. That’s really the only reason to watch this Mets team right now. Pineiro threw a two-hit complete game shutout against the Mets in New York on June 23. And he went 8 innings giving up 2 runs for a win in St. Louis against them on April 22. He hasn’t given up more than 3 runs in a game since May. Santana pitched a good game in his last start against Colorado going 7 shutout innings and only giving up 4 hits.
Don’t forget to visit The Mets Report Live Game Chat during the game to chat with other Mets fans!
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