Thursday, July 20, 2006
Reds 7, Mets 4
Mets 4, Reds 2 (10)
It hasn't always been pretty, but the Mets have now started off the second half of the season by winning two straight series on the road. They blew early leads in both of these games, but were able to prevent the second one from getting away. And their slumbering slugger showed some signs of life.
Steve Trachsel did not have a good night on Wednesday, but the fact that his start was interrupted by a rain delay of greater that two hours didn't help. He got through the first three innings without allowing a run, but could not make it out of the fourth. He gave up three runs in three and one-third innings on six hits and four walks. Darren Oliver entered with two on and one out and prevented further damage, but he did give up a run of his own in the fifth.
The Mets had opened up a lead with two runs in each of the first two innings but were kept scoreless from that point forward. Jose Reyes had two of the Mets' six hits. Carlos Beltran had a double as did the slumping Carlos Delgado.
Aaron Heilman pitched well in relief, striking out two in two scoreless innings while allowing just one walk. But Duaner Sanchez gave up three runs on three hits in the eighth to lose the game for the Mets.
The Mets started well again on Thursday, putting up two runs in the first four innings. Cliff Floyd continued his recent return to usefulness with his tenth home run of the season. Delgado also went deep, hitting his first home run of July and his twenty-third of the season.
Tom Glavine allowed plenty of base runners, giving up nine hits and four walks, but he was mostly able to escape trouble. He did give up two runs in the fifth. But he got out of a bases loaded jam in the sixth without further damage. He loaded the bases again in the seventh with just one out and had to be rescued by Chad Bradford. Bradford struck out the first batter he faced and got the second to ground out to end the threat.
Heilman and Pedro Feliciano each pitched a scoreless inning, sending the game to extra innings. And thanks to some bad defense from the Reds, they were able to put a couple of a runs on the board. Xavier Nady hit a fly ball that should have been caught but instead became a double. Endy Chavez and Beltran followed with legitimate doubles to score a pair. Billy Wagner closed things out with ease, striking out two.
The Mets (57-38) will now return home and continue their battle with the non-threatening portions of the NL Central. The Astros (46-50) will be in town for three games this weekend. Game one will pit Orlando Hernandez (5-8, 5.52) against Taylor Bucholz (6-7, 5.31), so perhaps some runs will be scored. ¶ joe | 11:27 PM |
Mets 4, Reds 2 (10)
It hasn't always been pretty, but the Mets have now started off the second half of the season by winning two straight series on the road. They blew early leads in both of these games, but were able to prevent the second one from getting away. And their slumbering slugger showed some signs of life.
Steve Trachsel did not have a good night on Wednesday, but the fact that his start was interrupted by a rain delay of greater that two hours didn't help. He got through the first three innings without allowing a run, but could not make it out of the fourth. He gave up three runs in three and one-third innings on six hits and four walks. Darren Oliver entered with two on and one out and prevented further damage, but he did give up a run of his own in the fifth.
The Mets had opened up a lead with two runs in each of the first two innings but were kept scoreless from that point forward. Jose Reyes had two of the Mets' six hits. Carlos Beltran had a double as did the slumping Carlos Delgado.
Aaron Heilman pitched well in relief, striking out two in two scoreless innings while allowing just one walk. But Duaner Sanchez gave up three runs on three hits in the eighth to lose the game for the Mets.
The Mets started well again on Thursday, putting up two runs in the first four innings. Cliff Floyd continued his recent return to usefulness with his tenth home run of the season. Delgado also went deep, hitting his first home run of July and his twenty-third of the season.
Tom Glavine allowed plenty of base runners, giving up nine hits and four walks, but he was mostly able to escape trouble. He did give up two runs in the fifth. But he got out of a bases loaded jam in the sixth without further damage. He loaded the bases again in the seventh with just one out and had to be rescued by Chad Bradford. Bradford struck out the first batter he faced and got the second to ground out to end the threat.
Heilman and Pedro Feliciano each pitched a scoreless inning, sending the game to extra innings. And thanks to some bad defense from the Reds, they were able to put a couple of a runs on the board. Xavier Nady hit a fly ball that should have been caught but instead became a double. Endy Chavez and Beltran followed with legitimate doubles to score a pair. Billy Wagner closed things out with ease, striking out two.
The Mets (57-38) will now return home and continue their battle with the non-threatening portions of the NL Central. The Astros (46-50) will be in town for three games this weekend. Game one will pit Orlando Hernandez (5-8, 5.52) against Taylor Bucholz (6-7, 5.31), so perhaps some runs will be scored. ¶ joe | 11:27 PM |
