Mets 5, Brewers 3

Today was an excellent example of how much of a difference a hit or two in a clutch situation can make. The Mets came into this game batting .228 with runners in scoring position. While this isn't all that much lower than their league-low overall average, there have been several close games where they were just a clutch hit or two away from winning. Despite their poor hitting, the Mets have had numerous situations with runners on base or in scoring position where they just did not come through. That they've drawn walks well enough to be in the middle of the league in that category is in part to thank for this. And with a few hits in key situations, the team's record could look very different.

Today, the Mets continued to struggle with the bats early, getting only one hit before the sixth inning, at which point they trailed 2-0. Roberto Alomar then led off the sixth with a single and then stole second base. The Mets did continue to draw their share of walks in this game, and Roger Cedeno and Mike Piazza got on via the free pass to load the bases for cleanup hitter Cliff Floyd. This game wouldn't have stood out much from many games the Mets have played this year if they managed to squander this opportunity and score just a run or even none. But this time around, they got the clutch hit as Floyd lined the ball over the right center field wall for a grand slam to put the Mets on top, 4-2.

The bottom half of the inning started out as a carbon copy of the top half with a single, a stolen base and a walk, but Al Leiter was sharp today and managed to limit the damage to only one run, and that was scored on a throwing error by Piazza trying to cut down a base stealer at third. The Mets were still ahead, 4-3.

One run hasn't been a very secure lead for the Met bullpen so far this year, but David Weathers continued to play the role of Iron Man, getting two outs in the eighth, only allowing a baserunner on a hit by pitch after getting the loss yesterday. Howe didn't stay with him too long, though as Mike Stanton got the final out of the seventh and the first of the eighth on a pair of strikeouts before giving way to Scott Strickland.

In the meantime, the Mets had loaded the bases again in the top of the eighth with a Piazza double and walks to Floyd and Ty Wigginton. Tsuyoshi Shinjo was brought in to pinch run for Piazza. Nobody came through with a big hit exactly, but Timo Perez managed to avoid swinging at four balls to earn a bases loaded walk, giving the Mets an insurance run. Joe McEwing, who probablyl earned a spot of the team for the rest of the season with his near-grand slam 2 RBI double on Thursday, returned to his normal levels of production, grounding into an inning-ending double play.

Howe continued to use his bullpen creatively in the eighth after Strickland got one out and gave up one hit, as he brought in Armando Benitez to get the final out of the eighth. He struck out Geoff Jenkins. This rare eighth inning appearance led to an even rarer sight, that of Benitez in the batter's box to lead off the ninth. In what was the seventh at bat of his career, he struck out to the amusement of his teammates, but he still looked like he could handle the bat better than Al Leiter, who earlier in the game was pinch hit for so Jay Bell could lay down a sacrifice bunt. In the bottom of the ninth, Benitez went back up to higher ground where he's slightly more comfortable and got the final three outs giving up just a walk for his ninth save of the season. Leiter's six inning, three run, four hit performance earned him his fourth win in five decisions. And the Mets managed to put five runs on the board with only five hits, thanks two seven walks and one timely bomb.

Tomorrow the Mets have the day off before the Dodgers come to town.

In an encouraging minor league development, Aaron Heilman pitched seven scoreless innings for the AAA Norfolk Tides to earn his fourth win of the year. He struck out four while walking just one and gave up just three hits. If Pedro Astacio continues to struggle like he did in his last start, I hope the Mets won't hesitate to call up the 24 year old Heilman to take his place in the rotation. Also in that game, 19 Year Old Shortstop Of The Future
Jose Reyes went one for four with a triple and a run.  ¶ joe | 1:56 AM |