Braves 9 – Mets 8 June 16, 2011

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 10: DJ Carrasco #77 of t...
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What a roller coaster this game was. I went from thrilled and excited to utterly disgusted and then even more disgusted. Typical Mets game.

This one went 10 innings tonight. It started out with a rough game by R.A. Dickey. He just didn’t have it and only went 4 innings allowing 4 earned runs. The Mets were down 6-2 after the fourth inning when Jason Bay (yeah, that Jason Bay) hit an RBI single and Scott Hairston hit a bomb of a 3-run homer. We haven’t seen many of those this year. It had me thinking a big comeback win was in the making.

The Mets took an 8-6 lead into the ninth when K-Rod allowed a 2-run homer to pinch hitter Brooks Conrad to tie the game. At least he wouldn’t get another game finished toward his vesting option!

In the tenth inning, D.J. Carrasco allowed 2 hits and a walk. Then he balked with a runner on third base to lose the game. Losing on a balk in the tenth inning! It was horrendous.

The Mets still win the series in Atlanta 2-1 and finish the road trip at 6-4.

Box score

Preview: Mets at Braves June 16, 2011

New York Mets (34-34) at Atlanta Braves (38-31) 7:10pm

R.A. Dickey (3-7 3.98) vs. Mike Minor (0-2 4.50)

TV: SNY              Radio: WFAN

What to watch: Surprisingly, the Mets have a chance to sweep the Braves in Atlanta tonight. They’ll go for it with Dickey on the mound who has lost two of three starts since he hurt his foot. But he’s been pitching really well during that span allowing 7 runs in 23.2 innings (2.72 ERA).

The Braves have Minor on the mound tonight making his fifth start of the season. He’s never pitched more than 6 innings in a start this year and the Braves are 2-2 in his starts. In his last start, he allowed 2 runs over 6 innings in Houston.

Preview: Mets at Braves June 15, 2011

New York Mets (33-34) at Atlanta Braves (38-30) 7:10pm

Dillon Gee (7-0 3.05) vs. Tim Hudson (5-5 4.06)

TV: SNY              Radio: WFAN

What to watch: The Mets can win the series in Atlanta tonight if they take this game. You would have to think they have a great chance to do it behind Gee. The Mets are 9-0 in Gee’s starts this year. He’s been incredible. Gee has only allowed 1 run in his last two starts over 15 innings.

The Mets beat up on Hudson pretty badly on June 5th for 5 runs in 4 innings. Since then, he beat the Astros going 6 innings and allowing 2 runs.

It’ll be interesting to see if Jason Bay is back in the lineup tonight.

Mets 4 – Braves 3 June 14, 2011

PORT ST. LUCIE, FL - FEBRUARY 24: Jon Niese #...
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The Mets got another good start from Jon Niese. He went 6.1 innings and allowed 2 runs. He was really on with 4 strikeouts, no walks, and allowing only 5 hits. He did it with Phil Cuzzi behind the plate too who had a ridiculously small strike zone. The bullpen was solid except for Jason Isringhausen allowing a solo homer to Dan Uggla. Other than that they worked pretty clean.

The Mets offense jumped on Jair Jurrgens early surprisingly. Jurrgens was having trouble with the Cuzzi strike zone and looked rattled when he gave up a run in the top of the first. As usual, it was a monster game for Jose Reyes. He went 3 for 5 with 2 runs, 1 RBI, and 2 stolen bases. These huge games are starting to become a daily occurrence. It’s really incredible to watch.

The Mets take the first game of the three game series.

Box score

Preview: Mets at Braves June 14, 2011

New York Mets (32-34) at Atlanta Braves (38-29) 7:10pm

Jon Niese (5-5 3.51) vs. Jair Jurrjens (8-2 1.82)

TV: SNY              Radio: WFAN

What to watch: The Braves have won six of seven games since losing the series against the Mets at Cit Field a week and a half ago. In that series Jurrjens got knocked around a bit by the Mets and took a loss. He gave up 3 earned runs in 6.1 innings. Since then, he won a game against the Marlins.

Niese has been awesome in his last five starts. In that span he’s given up 5 runs over 33.2 innings (1.36 ERA). His curve ball has been working lately but his control has been inconsistent. He walked 4 batters in two of those five starts.

Pirates 3 – Mets 1 June 13, 2011

DENVER, CO - MAY 10: Starting pitcher Mike Pe...
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The Mets lost a tough one behind a solid game by Mike Pelfrey. He went 7 innings and only allowed 2 runs. The Mets just couldn’t get anything going against Paul Maholm. He threw 7 scoreless innings. And when they did get something going, it was sabotaged like when Daniel Murphy got picked off second base. It always boggles my mind when guys with no speed wander too far off second base. It was another stupid play by Murphy.

The Mets bullpen didn’t look great either. Manny Acosta gave up 3 hits in 0.1 innings and Tim Byrdak walked in a run.

The Mets split the series with the Pirates and head to Atlanta for three games.

Box score

Preview: Mets at Pirates June 13, 2011

New York Mets (32-33) at Pittsburgh Pirates (31-33) 7:05pm

Mike Pelfrey (3-4 5.35) vs. Paul Maholm (2-7 3.39)

TV: SNY              Radio: WFAN

What to watch: The Mets can take three of four games in this series with a win tonight. Pelfrey is on the hill and has been very inconsistent over his last four starts. His last start in Milwaukee was a good one going 6 IP and allowing 2 runs. But he allowed the Pirates to score 7 in 5 innings at Citi Field in his prior start.

Maholm has been inconsistent recently too. The Mets tee’d off on him last week for 6 runs in 5.2 innings. But he came back in his last start to throw 6 shutout innings only allowing 1 hit.