Mets 3 – Reds 0 July 6, 2010

Mar. 24, 2010 - Port St Lucie, FLORIDA, United States Of America - epa02090870 New York Mets starting pitcher Johan Santana warms up prior to the game against the Houston Astros during a spring training baseball game in Port St Lucie, Florida, USA , 24 March 2010.

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsTonight was the Johan Santana show. In his last start before the All-Star break, Santana went out on a high note. He threw a complete game shutout only allowing 3 hits and 3 walks. He also hit the first home run of his career in the third inning into the right field foul pole. It looked like Jerry Manuel might pull Santana in the top of the ninth. There were two on with one out and Manuel came out to the mound. He quickly went back to the dugout leaving Santana in to finish off the game and it was a good decision.

The Mets didn’t have much offense tonight with 7 hits and 2 walks. But they didn’t need much behind Santana. Jose Reyes was 2 for 4 with a run in his first game back from straining a muscle in his side. Jason Bay was 1 for 4 but had a big 2-RBI single in the sixth inning that was all the insurance the Mets would need tonight.

The Mets and Reds play the rubber game of the series tomorrow.

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Reds 8 – Mets 6 July 5, 2010

New York Mets starting pitcher Mike Pelfrey throws a pitch to the Philadelphia Phillies in the first inning of their MLB National League baseball game in New York, May 27, 2010. REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsTonight’s game had three story lines. First, Mike Pelfrey has been shaky for several starts but he was just plain bad tonight. He gave up 7 runs in 4.2 IP. 9 hits and 4 walks killed him. Pelfrey takes the loss and his ERA is over 3 now. Certainly, he’s still having a good first half but the last month or so he’s been on a downward spiral.

Second, there was one of the worst calls I’ve seen in a long time that led to Jerry Manuel getting thrown out. In the top of the fifth, the Reds had the bases loaded with no outs against Pelfrey. Scott Rolen was called out by home plate ump Jerry Meals on a foul tip held by Rod Barajas. Rolen argued that the ball knicked his arm. The umpires conferred and changed the call to a hit by pitch. Manuel argued and got tossed. It was completely ridiculous that umpires 90-100 feet away would have a better view of a hit by pitch than the home plate ump.

Third, the Mets made a nice comeback in the bottom of the fifth scoring five to get the score to 7-6. The rally was highlighted by an Angel Pagan homer, David Wright triple, and Alex Cora 2 RBI double. Pagan had another nice game with 2 hits including the homer to get his average over .300. But it wasn’t enough to get back into the lead.

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Mets 9 – Nationals 5 July 4, 2010

New York Mets' David Wright (L) greets teammate Ike Davis at the plate after Davis's two-run home run against the Washington Nationals in the third inning of their National League MLB baseball game in Washington, July 4, 2010. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsThe Mets got a good start from Hisanori Takahashi through 5 innings. Unfortunately, he started the sixth inning and gave up 3 runs without getting an out. The bullpen was shaky, especially Bobby Parnell who gave up two hits in the ninth without getting an out. But Francisco Rodriguez made a nice recovery from yesterday’s meltdown to get the save without allowing a baserunner.

The Mets offense was all over Craig Stammen scoring 8 runs in the first four innings, 7 of them off Stammen. For the game they had 14 hits and 5 walks. Way too many baserunners for the Nationals to have a chance in this game. Angel Pagan had another big game going 3 for 5 with 2 doubles and 2 RBI’s. Ike Davis also hit his 10th homer off Stammen in the third.

The Mets leave Washington at 2-2 for the series and come home to face the Reds tomorrow.

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Mets 5 – Nationals 3 July 2, 2010

New York Mets starter Jonathon Niese pitches against the Washington Nationals in the first inning of their National League MLB baseball game in Washington, July 2, 2010. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsThe Mets got another outstanding start from Jon Niese going 7 IP and only giving up 1 run. He also had a career high 8 strikeouts and no walks. He’s really become such a consistent solid presence in the rotation. He also helped himself at the plate. He went 1 for 3 with an RBI double.

The Mets offense had 8 hits and 2 walks tonight. They were led by David Wright going 3 for 5 with a double and a run scored. Alex Cora had a bases loaded triple in the 4 run fourth inning that broke the game open.

The game got interesting in the bottom of the ninth when Elmer Dessens gave up a hit and a walk with two outs. K-Rod came in and gave up 2 hits allowing both inherited runners to score. Oddly, the game ended when he picked off Roger Bernadina at second base. It was one of the biggest bonehead plays I’ve seen in a while by Bernadina.

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Nationals 2 – Mets 1 July 1, 2010

New York Mets starter Johan Santana pitches against the Washington Nationals in the first inning of their National League MLB baseball game in Washington, July 1, 2010. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsThere actually was some good news in a night when Jose Reyes, Angel Pagan, and Jason Bay didn’t start the game. That news? Johan Santana pitched really well after four really bad starts in a row. As usual, the Mets didn’t back up Santana with any runs. The just couldn’t do anything against Livan Hernandez. Santana went 7 strong innings giving up 1 run on 98 pitches. It looked like he made an argument to Jerry Manuel to stay in the game but lost the argument.

The Mets offense was weak against Hernandez and the Nationals with only 8 hits and no walks. Henry Blanco and Jesus Feliciano had two hits apiece but all 8 Mets hits were singles.

The game was 1-0 until the bottom of the seventh when the Nats tied it off Santana. It was lost in the bottom of the ninth when Pedro Feliciano loaded the bases and Ryan Zimmermann hit a sac fly off Ryota Igarashi.

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Mets 6 – Marlins 5 June 30, 2010

Baseball fans wait in the rain for the MLB National League baseball game between the Florida Marlins and the New York Mets in San Juan, June 30, 2010. REUTERS/Ana Martinez (PUERTO RICO - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsThe Mets barely came away from this series with one game. Jose Reyes couldn’t play tonight with a strained lower back that happened during batting practice. Once again, Mike Pelfrey didn’t have it tonight. He gave up 4 runs in 4.2 IP and a whopping 12 hits. The bullpen took over and held on pretty well. Although Francisco Rodriguez made it interesting with the winning run on base in the ninth during his four out save.

The Mets offense was decent with 10 hits and no walks. David Wright and Jesus Feliciano both had 2 hits in the game. Both of Wright’s hits were doubles off the wall and he had 2 RBI’s.

The Mets lose the series but were helped out by some shoddy Marlins defense that kept them in the game tonight. They had a ridiculous 4 errors that accounted for 2 of the Mets runs. Waiting out the rain delay was well worth getting the win tonight.

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Marlins 7 – Mets 6 June 29, 2010

New York Mets starting pitcher Hisanori Takahashi throws a pitch to the Florida Marlins during the first inning of their MLB National League baseball game in San Juan June 29, 2010. REUTERS/Ana Martinez (PUERTO RICO - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsPedro Feliciano gave it up in the bottom of the ninth after a great comeback by the Mets in the top of the inning to score 2 runs to tie it. They overcame another horrible start by Hisanori Takahashi who gave up 6 runs in 5.2 IP. All of the runs against him were scored with two outs in the third inning including a grand slam by Hanley Ramirez. There are very serious questions about Takahashi’s viability as a starting pitcher. This is his fourth awful start now this season.

The Mets offense was more than solid with 12 hits and 2 walks. David Wright had the big game going 3 for 4 and raising his average to .310. Chris Carter had a big pinch hit double in the ninth that spurred the rally that tied the game. Marlins right fielder Mike Stanton looked like a fish out of water in the field, excuse the pun. But he’s a butcher in the outfield and that helped the Mets on a couple of occasions including Carter’s double.

The Mets drop the first two games of the series and try to avoid the sweep tomorrow in Puerto Rico.

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