Friday, August 04, 2006
Marlins 4, Mets 1
Aaron Heilman did not pitch so well this time. Taking the mound for the third straight day, Heilman entered a tie game in the eighth. He gave up three runs on two walks and two hits to lose the game for the Mets.
Not that the Mets' offense had really done much to win it. They had seven hits, including three from Jose Valentin and two from David Wright, and three walks. But they scored just one run and that one was aided significantly by an error in right field. Lastings Milledge had the team's only extra base hit with a double in the fifth. The Mets had some opportunities to score against Dontrelle Willis but three different Mets grounded into double plays.
All this was enough to waste an excellent start from Pedro Martinez. Pedro pitched six innings and gave up just one run on four hits. The one run scored on a Mike Jacobs home run and two of the other hits were doubles, but he never allowed more than one base runner in the same inning. He walked none and struck out nine before exiting, having thrown exactly 100 pitches. While his teammates may have let him down, Pedro's effort did a lot to stabilize what has been a shaky starting rotation. If the guy who pitched tonight shows up twice in a playoff series, I like the Mets' chances.
Tomorrow the Mets (64-43) begin a six-game homestead starting with three games against the Phillies (52-55), who just swept a series in St. Louis. Orlando Hernandez (7-8, 5.00), who pitched very well in his last start, which pitch for the Mets. His competition will be Randy Wolf (0-0, 6.23), whose first start of the season I witnessed in person on Sunday. Wolf was effective at times, but he struggled a lot with his control, walking five batters in four and one-third innings. He may yet regain his old excellent form, but it's probably going to take a little time. ¶ joe | 12:09 AM |
Aaron Heilman did not pitch so well this time. Taking the mound for the third straight day, Heilman entered a tie game in the eighth. He gave up three runs on two walks and two hits to lose the game for the Mets.
Not that the Mets' offense had really done much to win it. They had seven hits, including three from Jose Valentin and two from David Wright, and three walks. But they scored just one run and that one was aided significantly by an error in right field. Lastings Milledge had the team's only extra base hit with a double in the fifth. The Mets had some opportunities to score against Dontrelle Willis but three different Mets grounded into double plays.
All this was enough to waste an excellent start from Pedro Martinez. Pedro pitched six innings and gave up just one run on four hits. The one run scored on a Mike Jacobs home run and two of the other hits were doubles, but he never allowed more than one base runner in the same inning. He walked none and struck out nine before exiting, having thrown exactly 100 pitches. While his teammates may have let him down, Pedro's effort did a lot to stabilize what has been a shaky starting rotation. If the guy who pitched tonight shows up twice in a playoff series, I like the Mets' chances.
Tomorrow the Mets (64-43) begin a six-game homestead starting with three games against the Phillies (52-55), who just swept a series in St. Louis. Orlando Hernandez (7-8, 5.00), who pitched very well in his last start, which pitch for the Mets. His competition will be Randy Wolf (0-0, 6.23), whose first start of the season I witnessed in person on Sunday. Wolf was effective at times, but he struggled a lot with his control, walking five batters in four and one-third innings. He may yet regain his old excellent form, but it's probably going to take a little time. ¶ joe | 12:09 AM |
