Friday, April 16, 2004
Mets 4, Braves 0
The Mets' outfield and lineup took another hit tonight as the combination of a minor thigh strain and the cold New York weather led Mike Cameron to take a precautionary day off. He'll be in the lineup tomorrow, but tonight the Mets had to make due with the frightening outfield of Joe McEwing, Jeff Duncan and Shane Spencer. The presence of Duncan meant the Mets didn't lose all that much defense in center, but that he suffered the indignity of having to bat eighth, behind McEwing, tells you something about his history with the bat in the major leagues. Only Spencer, who's been hitting and kept it up tonight, was part of the Mets' pre-season starting plans with a lefty on the mound for the Braves.
Al Leiter failed to allow a run in his first outing, but coudn't win due to lack of support from a Mets lineup that featured both Cameron and Cliff Floyd. He gave the Mets a very similar effort this time out, once again holding the opposition scoreless while racking up a huge pitch count. This time he made it into the sixth and recorded an out before David Weathers entered with two runners on base. Leiter allowed three hits and three walks while striking out two over his five and a third innings. Weathers wound up walking the first batter he faced, Andruw Jones, to load the bases when an epic 11-pitch at bat ended with a near-miss ball. But he got a double play from the next hitter and the Mets' then two-run lead was preserved for Leiter.
The Mets got on the board right from the start as a Kazuo Matsui walk and a Ricky Gutierrez bloop double turned into a run on a Spencer ground out. Matsui also singled and drew an intentional walk in four plate appearances, scoring two runs on the game. His on-base percentage is once again an even .500 as he's tied for the league lead in walks with the guy who led the league last year. Gutierrez of course made the intentional walk look like a great move by flying out to end the inning. Spencer drove in both of Matsui's runs, also walking and singling. Mike Piazza had a pair of singles in four at bats including one as part of the Mets' eighth inning rally of three singles and a walk that netted two runs. Vance Wilson scored one of those pinch running for Piazza.
The Mets got good work out of their bullpen as well, as Weathers went one and two-thirds scoreless, Orber Moreno pitched a perfect eighth and Braden Looper struck out two in a perfect ninth. Looper has struck out five in five and one-third innings of this young season while walking just one and not allowing a run.
Tomorrow, the 5-4 Mets try to fatten up on the dregs of the NL Central, as the Pirates come to town. Kip Wells (1-1, 1.50) will go for Pittsburgh in game one, while Tom Glavine (2-0, 1.38) hopes to have both his smoke and his mirrors in working order for the Mets. ¶ joe | 1:30 AM |
The Mets' outfield and lineup took another hit tonight as the combination of a minor thigh strain and the cold New York weather led Mike Cameron to take a precautionary day off. He'll be in the lineup tomorrow, but tonight the Mets had to make due with the frightening outfield of Joe McEwing, Jeff Duncan and Shane Spencer. The presence of Duncan meant the Mets didn't lose all that much defense in center, but that he suffered the indignity of having to bat eighth, behind McEwing, tells you something about his history with the bat in the major leagues. Only Spencer, who's been hitting and kept it up tonight, was part of the Mets' pre-season starting plans with a lefty on the mound for the Braves.
Al Leiter failed to allow a run in his first outing, but coudn't win due to lack of support from a Mets lineup that featured both Cameron and Cliff Floyd. He gave the Mets a very similar effort this time out, once again holding the opposition scoreless while racking up a huge pitch count. This time he made it into the sixth and recorded an out before David Weathers entered with two runners on base. Leiter allowed three hits and three walks while striking out two over his five and a third innings. Weathers wound up walking the first batter he faced, Andruw Jones, to load the bases when an epic 11-pitch at bat ended with a near-miss ball. But he got a double play from the next hitter and the Mets' then two-run lead was preserved for Leiter.
The Mets got on the board right from the start as a Kazuo Matsui walk and a Ricky Gutierrez bloop double turned into a run on a Spencer ground out. Matsui also singled and drew an intentional walk in four plate appearances, scoring two runs on the game. His on-base percentage is once again an even .500 as he's tied for the league lead in walks with the guy who led the league last year. Gutierrez of course made the intentional walk look like a great move by flying out to end the inning. Spencer drove in both of Matsui's runs, also walking and singling. Mike Piazza had a pair of singles in four at bats including one as part of the Mets' eighth inning rally of three singles and a walk that netted two runs. Vance Wilson scored one of those pinch running for Piazza.
The Mets got good work out of their bullpen as well, as Weathers went one and two-thirds scoreless, Orber Moreno pitched a perfect eighth and Braden Looper struck out two in a perfect ninth. Looper has struck out five in five and one-third innings of this young season while walking just one and not allowing a run.
Tomorrow, the 5-4 Mets try to fatten up on the dregs of the NL Central, as the Pirates come to town. Kip Wells (1-1, 1.50) will go for Pittsburgh in game one, while Tom Glavine (2-0, 1.38) hopes to have both his smoke and his mirrors in working order for the Mets. ¶ joe | 1:30 AM |
