Thursday, September 01, 2005
Phillies 3, Mets 1
So now the Mets can't hit. Terrific. Losing this series didn't doom the Mets' playoff chances, but it certainly put them in a precarious position. The Mets now head off on a tough ten-game road trip with their postseason hopes dwindling. If they don't play a lot better over the next week and a half than they have over the last week, their games will cease to be meaningful rather quickly.
Tom Glavine pitched another good game, though his own defense contributed significantly to his downfall. With runners on first and second and one out in the first inning, an easy double play ball was hit right at Glavine, but he bobbled it and was only able to record one out. A walk and a single followed, putting two runs on the board. Glavine didn't give up anything else over seven innings, but that was enough. He allowed three hits and four walks while striking out six, though five of those six were lefty Ryan Howard and opposing pitcher Jon Lieber. Braden Looper gave up a solo home run to Howard in relief.
Meanwhile, the Mets' offense was so pathetic that Kazuo Matsui qualified as one of the heroes of the day. He drove in the only run with a ground out following a triple by Jose Reyes, and he drew a leadoff walk in the ninth inning as the Mets tried to rally from two runs down. Of course, the Mets squandered that walk, as they did three of the four hits they had on the day. Even David Wright couldn't get anything done against Billy Wagner, as he struck out to end the game. Wright did have a single earlier in the game as did Cliff Floyd. Reyes had the other two hits with the triple and a single. Matsui's walk was the only one the Mets drew all day. Like any other day, Miguel Cairo didn't get a hit, though this time it was because he didn't play.
Tomorrow the Mets (69-64) will find themselves in Florida facing a Marlins (70-63) team they trail by one game in the standings. The pitching matchup is ugly. Victor Zambrano (7-10, 4.07) will take on Dontrelle Willis (18-8, 2.61). Willis has pitched even better against the Mets in his career than he has against the whole league this year, going 6-1 with a 2.04 ERA in nine starts. ¶ joe | 11:36 PM |
So now the Mets can't hit. Terrific. Losing this series didn't doom the Mets' playoff chances, but it certainly put them in a precarious position. The Mets now head off on a tough ten-game road trip with their postseason hopes dwindling. If they don't play a lot better over the next week and a half than they have over the last week, their games will cease to be meaningful rather quickly.
Tom Glavine pitched another good game, though his own defense contributed significantly to his downfall. With runners on first and second and one out in the first inning, an easy double play ball was hit right at Glavine, but he bobbled it and was only able to record one out. A walk and a single followed, putting two runs on the board. Glavine didn't give up anything else over seven innings, but that was enough. He allowed three hits and four walks while striking out six, though five of those six were lefty Ryan Howard and opposing pitcher Jon Lieber. Braden Looper gave up a solo home run to Howard in relief.
Meanwhile, the Mets' offense was so pathetic that Kazuo Matsui qualified as one of the heroes of the day. He drove in the only run with a ground out following a triple by Jose Reyes, and he drew a leadoff walk in the ninth inning as the Mets tried to rally from two runs down. Of course, the Mets squandered that walk, as they did three of the four hits they had on the day. Even David Wright couldn't get anything done against Billy Wagner, as he struck out to end the game. Wright did have a single earlier in the game as did Cliff Floyd. Reyes had the other two hits with the triple and a single. Matsui's walk was the only one the Mets drew all day. Like any other day, Miguel Cairo didn't get a hit, though this time it was because he didn't play.
Tomorrow the Mets (69-64) will find themselves in Florida facing a Marlins (70-63) team they trail by one game in the standings. The pitching matchup is ugly. Victor Zambrano (7-10, 4.07) will take on Dontrelle Willis (18-8, 2.61). Willis has pitched even better against the Mets in his career than he has against the whole league this year, going 6-1 with a 2.04 ERA in nine starts. ¶ joe | 11:36 PM |
