Sunday, July 24, 2005
Dodgers 6, Mets 5
Mets 7, Dodgers 5
Mets 6, Dodgers 0
I don't know quite how it happened, but suddenly the Mets can score runs. They've gotten good pitching in most games since the All-Star Break, but now they're putting runs on the board even when they lose. They've now won six out of seven, and while they still sit in fourth place due to similarly good play from the rest of the division's back end, they sit just three and a half games out of the tie for the division lead and the Wild Card. As the trading deadline approaches, the Mets seem to be contending in a much more realistic manner than they were at the time of last year's blunders.
Friday's game was not one of those in which the Mets got good starting pitching, but they still nearly pulled it out with an unusual offensive outburst. Victor Zambrano got smacked around in his worst start since April. It was only the second time this season he's given up more than three runs, but he gave them up in a hurry. On the bright side, he didn't walk anyone, but thanks to the ten hits he gave up, that made little difference. Four doubles and a home run were among those and that added up to six runs in four and two-thirds innings. He struck out just one batter.
But down 6-0, the Mets did not just let this one go. After the sixth run had been scored and Zambrano had exited in the top of the fifth, the Mets got right back into the game in the bottom half. Doug Mientkiewicz, hoping to keep his job as starting first baseman past next Sunday, smacked his eleventh home run of the season, a two-run shot. In the next inning, Carlos Beltran, perhaps embarrassed at not having any more home runs than Mientkiewicz, hit his twelfth to drive in three more runs. The Mets had just eight hits and one walk, but those two home runs and a double by David Wright were among them and helped put those five runs on the board. But that was all the could muster and thus failed to overcome the six-run deficit despite four and one-third innings of scoreless relief pitching.
Saturday was a different story, though, as while the Mets did again get behind early and have some trouble with pitching, this time they were able to come back. Surprisingly, this time the rough start came from Pedro Martinez, who gave up as many runs as he has all season. He lasted seven innings and gave up just eight hits and two walks, but that included a home run and three doubles and he was charged with five runs. He struck out a paltry four batters.
But the Mets, down three runs after half an inning and down two after five more, just kept coming back as Pedro kept failing to shut the Dodgers down. The Mets didn't hit a home run all day, but Jose Reyes's triple being the biggest hit of the day was plenty. It was just one of Reyes's four hits on the day and he also stole a pair of bases to raise his league-leading total to thirty-four. Beltran, Wright and Mike Cameron also had multiple hits, with Wright hitting his twenty-sixth double of the season. Mientkiewicz also hit a double. Cameron, Beltran and Miguel Cairo each stole a base as well.
And Sunday, the Mets finally had a more relaxing, comfortable victory thanks to some excellent starting pitching. Kris Benson threw eight shutout innings in what was both is longest and stingiest start of the season. He allowed four hits, all singles, and one walk and he struck out five batters. Benson's acquisition last year never seemed quite as dumb as the Zambrano trade, but I wasn't exactly thrilled by the deal, either. It sure would be nice to have Justin Huber right now. And of course Benson's contract was roundly criticized when he signed it. He's certainly not one of the best pitchers in the league, but he has pitched better than the mediocrity of his last three seasons. Both he and Zambrano are providing interesting data points regarding Rick Peterson's ability to "fix" wayward pitchers. I wonder what he'd be able to do with someone who didn't suck in the first place.
The Mets got all the runs they needed in the second inning when Mike Piazza hit a two-run home run into the left field bleachers. It was his twelfth on the season and the 390th of his career. I don't know if he can make it to 400 by the end of the season, but it will sure be fun to watch him try. He also had two singles and a walk in the game. Beltran and Cliff Floyd each had a couple of hits, with Beltran tripling and Floyd doubling.
Tomorrow the Mets (51-47) and their newly adequate offense head to a place where they might be able to keep it up. They'll start a three game series in Colorado against the Rockies (34-63), who despite sucking intensely are one game over .500 at home this season. Tom Glavine (7-7, 4.62) will get lit up for the Mets. Jose Acevedo (1-0, 3.92) goes for Colorado. ¶ joe | 11:12 PM |
Mets 7, Dodgers 5
Mets 6, Dodgers 0
I don't know quite how it happened, but suddenly the Mets can score runs. They've gotten good pitching in most games since the All-Star Break, but now they're putting runs on the board even when they lose. They've now won six out of seven, and while they still sit in fourth place due to similarly good play from the rest of the division's back end, they sit just three and a half games out of the tie for the division lead and the Wild Card. As the trading deadline approaches, the Mets seem to be contending in a much more realistic manner than they were at the time of last year's blunders.
Friday's game was not one of those in which the Mets got good starting pitching, but they still nearly pulled it out with an unusual offensive outburst. Victor Zambrano got smacked around in his worst start since April. It was only the second time this season he's given up more than three runs, but he gave them up in a hurry. On the bright side, he didn't walk anyone, but thanks to the ten hits he gave up, that made little difference. Four doubles and a home run were among those and that added up to six runs in four and two-thirds innings. He struck out just one batter.
But down 6-0, the Mets did not just let this one go. After the sixth run had been scored and Zambrano had exited in the top of the fifth, the Mets got right back into the game in the bottom half. Doug Mientkiewicz, hoping to keep his job as starting first baseman past next Sunday, smacked his eleventh home run of the season, a two-run shot. In the next inning, Carlos Beltran, perhaps embarrassed at not having any more home runs than Mientkiewicz, hit his twelfth to drive in three more runs. The Mets had just eight hits and one walk, but those two home runs and a double by David Wright were among them and helped put those five runs on the board. But that was all the could muster and thus failed to overcome the six-run deficit despite four and one-third innings of scoreless relief pitching.
Saturday was a different story, though, as while the Mets did again get behind early and have some trouble with pitching, this time they were able to come back. Surprisingly, this time the rough start came from Pedro Martinez, who gave up as many runs as he has all season. He lasted seven innings and gave up just eight hits and two walks, but that included a home run and three doubles and he was charged with five runs. He struck out a paltry four batters.
But the Mets, down three runs after half an inning and down two after five more, just kept coming back as Pedro kept failing to shut the Dodgers down. The Mets didn't hit a home run all day, but Jose Reyes's triple being the biggest hit of the day was plenty. It was just one of Reyes's four hits on the day and he also stole a pair of bases to raise his league-leading total to thirty-four. Beltran, Wright and Mike Cameron also had multiple hits, with Wright hitting his twenty-sixth double of the season. Mientkiewicz also hit a double. Cameron, Beltran and Miguel Cairo each stole a base as well.
And Sunday, the Mets finally had a more relaxing, comfortable victory thanks to some excellent starting pitching. Kris Benson threw eight shutout innings in what was both is longest and stingiest start of the season. He allowed four hits, all singles, and one walk and he struck out five batters. Benson's acquisition last year never seemed quite as dumb as the Zambrano trade, but I wasn't exactly thrilled by the deal, either. It sure would be nice to have Justin Huber right now. And of course Benson's contract was roundly criticized when he signed it. He's certainly not one of the best pitchers in the league, but he has pitched better than the mediocrity of his last three seasons. Both he and Zambrano are providing interesting data points regarding Rick Peterson's ability to "fix" wayward pitchers. I wonder what he'd be able to do with someone who didn't suck in the first place.
The Mets got all the runs they needed in the second inning when Mike Piazza hit a two-run home run into the left field bleachers. It was his twelfth on the season and the 390th of his career. I don't know if he can make it to 400 by the end of the season, but it will sure be fun to watch him try. He also had two singles and a walk in the game. Beltran and Cliff Floyd each had a couple of hits, with Beltran tripling and Floyd doubling.
Tomorrow the Mets (51-47) and their newly adequate offense head to a place where they might be able to keep it up. They'll start a three game series in Colorado against the Rockies (34-63), who despite sucking intensely are one game over .500 at home this season. Tom Glavine (7-7, 4.62) will get lit up for the Mets. Jose Acevedo (1-0, 3.92) goes for Colorado. ¶ joe | 11:12 PM |
