Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Mets 1, Diamondbacks 0 (13)
It was clear that this pitching matchup had the potential to produce something special, and it absolutely lived up to its promise. Each starter dominated the opposition in his own way, exiting a scoreless game. And the bullpens kept up the pace into the thirteenth inning. It was truly a great game.
Brandon Webb shut down the Mets for seven innings, allowing just four hits and one walk while striking out five. His signature sinker was in top form as he recorded eleven outs via the ground ball. Only once did he allow two base runners at the same time or anyone to reach third. And the Mets didn't accomplish either of those feats until two outs were recorded in the seventh.
Pedro Martinez was in mild trouble a bit earlier, as in the second inning an error by Lastings Milledge and a single put runners on first and second with two outs. But a brilliant diving stop by Jose Valentin put that inning to an end. The only two-hit inning Pedro allowed was the sixth, and Milledge erased any serious threat with a strong throw to nail Craig Counsell trying to go from first to third with one out. Pedro lasted eight innings and allowed just five hits, striking out eight and walking none. But, as has been the case all month, his offense was unable to get him the win.
Four Arizona relievers pitched five scoreless innings after Webb left. It took just two Met relievers to do the same. Billy Wagner allowed one hit and one walk and struck out two, getting through two innings on just twenty-one pitches. Duaner Sanchez followed him with three excellent innings, allowing two hits and striking out two.
The Mets were unable to get anything done against old friend Jorge Julio in the twelfth. But in the bottom of the thirteenth, they finally broke through against Jason Grimsley. Valentin led off with a double to left. The last hitter on the Mets' bench, Ramon Castro, followed with a ground out, but Valentin was able to advance to third. Endy Chavez, double-switched into the game two innings earlier, drove a ball to deep center field for a game-winning single. The Mets bench looked like a weakness at the start of the season, but players like Chavez and Valentin have stepped up and made important contributions.
One slightly concerning thing about this game was the manner in which Carlos Beltran left it. He fouled a ball off his knee in the bottom of the eleventh and was on the ground in pain for a few minutes before finally resuming his at bat. He subsequently struck out and did not return to the field in the next inning. Right now it's being called a bruised knee, but we'll have to wait and see if further investigation reveals anything more serious. At least he'll have a day off tomorrow.
The Mets (32-20) return to action on Friday night as the Giants (27-26) come to town. Tom Glavine (8-2, 2.59) will start for the Mets having lost the team ERA lead to Pedro's new 2.50 mark. Matt Cain (3-5, 5.07) goes for San Francisco. ¶ joe | 11:27 PM |
It was clear that this pitching matchup had the potential to produce something special, and it absolutely lived up to its promise. Each starter dominated the opposition in his own way, exiting a scoreless game. And the bullpens kept up the pace into the thirteenth inning. It was truly a great game.
Brandon Webb shut down the Mets for seven innings, allowing just four hits and one walk while striking out five. His signature sinker was in top form as he recorded eleven outs via the ground ball. Only once did he allow two base runners at the same time or anyone to reach third. And the Mets didn't accomplish either of those feats until two outs were recorded in the seventh.
Pedro Martinez was in mild trouble a bit earlier, as in the second inning an error by Lastings Milledge and a single put runners on first and second with two outs. But a brilliant diving stop by Jose Valentin put that inning to an end. The only two-hit inning Pedro allowed was the sixth, and Milledge erased any serious threat with a strong throw to nail Craig Counsell trying to go from first to third with one out. Pedro lasted eight innings and allowed just five hits, striking out eight and walking none. But, as has been the case all month, his offense was unable to get him the win.
Four Arizona relievers pitched five scoreless innings after Webb left. It took just two Met relievers to do the same. Billy Wagner allowed one hit and one walk and struck out two, getting through two innings on just twenty-one pitches. Duaner Sanchez followed him with three excellent innings, allowing two hits and striking out two.
The Mets were unable to get anything done against old friend Jorge Julio in the twelfth. But in the bottom of the thirteenth, they finally broke through against Jason Grimsley. Valentin led off with a double to left. The last hitter on the Mets' bench, Ramon Castro, followed with a ground out, but Valentin was able to advance to third. Endy Chavez, double-switched into the game two innings earlier, drove a ball to deep center field for a game-winning single. The Mets bench looked like a weakness at the start of the season, but players like Chavez and Valentin have stepped up and made important contributions.
One slightly concerning thing about this game was the manner in which Carlos Beltran left it. He fouled a ball off his knee in the bottom of the eleventh and was on the ground in pain for a few minutes before finally resuming his at bat. He subsequently struck out and did not return to the field in the next inning. Right now it's being called a bruised knee, but we'll have to wait and see if further investigation reveals anything more serious. At least he'll have a day off tomorrow.
The Mets (32-20) return to action on Friday night as the Giants (27-26) come to town. Tom Glavine (8-2, 2.59) will start for the Mets having lost the team ERA lead to Pedro's new 2.50 mark. Matt Cain (3-5, 5.07) goes for San Francisco. ¶ joe | 11:27 PM |
