Mets Win In 10 Over Brewers 6-5

Jon Niese was shaky and assuredly nervous in his first start for the Mets. That’s to be expected. He got hit pretty hard including Rickie Weeks hitting a lead off home run. Niese only lasted into the fourth inning and gave up five runs.

Carlos Beltran had a great offensive game going 2 for 3 with 3 RBI’s and his 22nd home run. The Brewers defense was really bad including two errors that allowed Daniel Murphy to make it to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Jose Reyes in the tenth. He would score the winning run on a sac fly by Endy Chavez.

The bullpen held up really well tonight throwing seven scoreless innings. That was great to see.

Box score

On Deck- September 2- Mets at Brewers [Game 2]

New York Mets (77-61 Road: 36-36) at Milwaukee Brewers (80-57 Home:41-25) 8:05pm

Jon Niese (0-0 0.00) vs. Manny Parra (10-6 4.00)

TV: SNY   Radio: WFAN

What to watch: Niese gets his first major league appearance. It should be fun to watch one of the Mets top prospects get a shot at the big time. Parra’s had a good year but he’s lost four of his last five decisions.

Click “Live Game Chat” at the top of the page to chat during the game with Mets fans.

Delgado HR Lifts Mets Over Brewers 4-2

Eric Gagne blew another game for the Brewers by giving up three runs in the eighth including a two-run homer to Carlos Delgado. The resurgent Delgado went 2 for 4 with 2 RBI’s. Carlos Beltran, Daniel Murphy, and Jose Reyes also had two hits each today.

Beltran left the game in the ninth inning after sliding into home safely and running into home plate umpire Ed Rapuano. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that before. But it didn’t look like a serious injury.

Mets pitchers combined for 15 strikeouts today including 10 by starter Johan Santana. He went six innings giving up two runs including one on a balk with Prince Fielder on third base.

It was an unusual game for the Mets: scoring big runs late in the game, and the bullpen working through three innings cleanly.

Box score

Report: Jerry Manuel Expected To Return in 2009

CBS Sports senior baseball writer Danny Knobler wrote a column yesterday about managers that will be returning next season. We already knew that Cito Gaston would be back in Toronto next year, but Knobler also writes that Jerry Manuel is expected back with the Mets.

I’d be shocked if Manuel didn’t come back next year. The 2008 season has turned around dramatically since he took over. He’s accomplished the only thing that he really has control over: motivating the players to reach or exceed their potential. His in-game decisions are solid, if not innovative. He’s not driving us crazy by batting the pitchers eighth in the lineup or anything silly like that. I’d be hard-pressed to come up with an argument not to bring him back.

Image via Wikimedia