Here’s the post-game audio from the Giants 5-4 win in 10 innings which David Wright was hit in the head by a pitch from Matt Cain.
Audio: Post-Game Aug. 15, 2009 Santana, Manuel, Cain
Tag: Johan Santana
Santana Protecting Mets In David Wright Beaning
After yesterday’s game, Johan Santana said that he was protecting his teammates when he threw behind Pablo Sandoval and then hit Bengie Molina. Santana went on to say that he plays the game the right way. I won’t disagree with that. But I think that Santana should have hit or threw near Matt Cain instead of waiting three innings to throw at Sandoval.
Santana probably would’ve been thrown out of the game for throwing at Cain. But at this point in the Mets season, does that really matter? The Mets season is over and the message would have been much more clear to Cain. If Cain can’t stay in control when he’s on the mound, things can get dangerous for everyone including him.
Larry Brooks of the NY Post has some good quotes from Santana about the incident:
“I feel like I have to protect my teammates; you can call it whatever you want. There’s no question we are going to stick together.”
“I’m going to protect them the way they protect me.”
I’m not going to complain too loudly about the way Santana dealt with this. Because he did deal with it. But I still think Cain should have been the one that was on the receiving end of a fastball.
Giants 5 – Mets 4 Aug. 15, 2009
- Image by Getty Images via Daylife
Although the biggest impact of this game came from the failures of the Mets best pitchers, the biggest impact on the rest of the season may be felt by David Wright taking a bean ball to the head. Matt Cain hit him square in the side of the helmet with a 94 mph fastball that dropped Wright to the ground. He was helped off the field and later left in an ambulance to be examined.
Johan Santana really didn’t have his best stuff today. He ended up giving up 4 runs in 6.2 innings. The 9 hits and 1 walk just didn’t cut it and he left the game with the Mets losing 4-1 in the seventh. Santana did throw a ball behind Pablo Sandoval in retaliation for Wright’s beaning. Sandoval got the last laugh though when he drilled a deep home run to left in the at-bat.
The Mets came back with a 3-run rally. They strung some hits together and rallied only to have Francisco Rodriguez give it away in the tenth inning on a solo homer to Bengie Molina.
Preview: Giants at Mets Aug. 15, 2009
San Francisco Giants (62-53 Road: 23-33) at New York Mets (54-61 Home: 31-25) 4:10pm
Matt Cain (12-4 2.44) vs. Johan Santana (13-8 3.00)
TV: FOX
What to watch: Cain’s been having an unbelievable season but his last two starts have been sub-par. The Giants lost both games and he gave up 9 runs in 15 innings. Santana’s last start against the Padres was fantastic going 8 innings and only giving up 1 run. This is a terrific pitching matchup for those lucky enough to be going to the game. Expect Billy Wagner to start making his way to New York today with the intent of rejoining the team as early as tomorrow.
Don’t forget to visit The Mets Report Live Game Chat during the game to chat with other Mets fans!
Mets 5 – Padres 1 Aug. 9, 2009
- Image by Keith Allison via Flickr
This game was the blueprint that the Mets imagined before this season started. Johan Santana was completely in control of the game throwing 8 innings only giving up 1 run on 5 hits and 2 walks. He handed the ball off to Francisco Rodriguez for the ninth and he closed it out. K-Rod had blown his last two save attempts. Today’s game wasn’t a save situation but he needed to get a solid inning under his belt.
The Mets even flashed some offense today led by none other than Santana. He had 2 hits including an RBI single that led to the 3 run sixth inning. The Mets were greatly helped by Padres second baseman Oscar Salazar‘s error that allowed 2 runs to score.
The Mets win their first game in San Diego in more than two years and leave for Arizona finally tasting victory.
Pre-Game: Mets at Padres Aug. 9, 2009
New York Mets (51-59 Road: 29-28) at San Diego Padres (47-65 Home: 30-29) 4:05pm
Johan Santana (12-8 3.10) vs. Tim Stauffer (1-3 3.12)
TV: WPIX
What to watch: The Mets are trying to avoid the dreaded four game sweep to a last place team today. They’ll rely again on Santana to get a win when nobody else seems to be able to. He gave up 5 runs over 8 innings in his last start, a no decision. Stauffer has made five starts over the last month for the Padres and hasn’t allowed more than 3 runs in any of them.
Don’t forget to visit The Mets Report Live Game Chat during the game to chat with other Mets fans!
Cardinals 12 – Mets 7 August 4, 2009
- Image by Getty Images via Daylife
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.
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