Thursday, September 07, 2006
Mets 4, Braves 1
Mets 8, Braves 0
After finding themselves on the business end of a dominating pitching performance on Monday, the Mets pulled the old switcheroo on the Braves in Wednesday's doubleheader. Or was it the "what's good for the goose is good for the gander"?
Dave Williams got things started with six excellent innings in the first game. He allowed just one run on a Brian McCann home run. Of the five hits he allowed, that was the only one to go for extra bases and he did not walk anyone. He struck out four and was for some reason removed after just 72 pitches from a game the Mets led 3-1. In four starts with the Mets, Williams is 3-0 with a 3.24 ERA and a 16:2 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
One recent acquisition which hadn't worked out quite so well was that of Shawn Green. But he had a huge day, starting off with three hits including a double and a home run in the first game. Carlos Delgado also homered, giving him thirty-six on the season. Jose Reyes had two hits.
As good as Williams was, his performance could not compare to that of Oliver Perez in game two. The young lefty was absolutely brilliant, pitching a complete game shutout and striking out six. He allowed just five hits, four of them singles, and one walk. Control had been a major problem for Perez even when he'd looked good prior to this game, but he didn't walk anyone until there were two outs in the ninth inning. This was easily Perez's best start of the season and it was his first complete game, let alone shutout, since 2004. Maybe I should wait for him to pitch well twice in a row, or at least once against a team that hasn't played three doubleheaders in five days, to get excited, but I choose not to. The Pirates got robbed.
Perez was nearly removed from this game in the sixth inning, as a pinch hitter stood in the on deck circle before the Mets broke the game open. But a two-run triple from Endy Chavez gave the Mets a six-run lead and Perez got to bat for himself, grounding out. Green once again led the way for the Mets' offense with three more hits including his thirteenth home run of the season. Reyes also went deep as his seventeenth long ball led off the bottom of the first inning. Carlos Beltran returned to the lineup, drew two walks and stole a base.
Having pushed the Braves to the brink of elimination and shaved their own magic number by three in one day, the Mets (86-52) now turn their attention to a potential playoff preview. The NL West-leading Dodgers (74-65) will be in town for four games to have their late season morale diminished. Game one will see Tom Glavine (12-6, 4.13) take on Brad Penny (15-7, 3.97) in a matchup that could very well recur come October. ¶ joe | 12:17 AM |
Mets 8, Braves 0
After finding themselves on the business end of a dominating pitching performance on Monday, the Mets pulled the old switcheroo on the Braves in Wednesday's doubleheader. Or was it the "what's good for the goose is good for the gander"?
Dave Williams got things started with six excellent innings in the first game. He allowed just one run on a Brian McCann home run. Of the five hits he allowed, that was the only one to go for extra bases and he did not walk anyone. He struck out four and was for some reason removed after just 72 pitches from a game the Mets led 3-1. In four starts with the Mets, Williams is 3-0 with a 3.24 ERA and a 16:2 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
One recent acquisition which hadn't worked out quite so well was that of Shawn Green. But he had a huge day, starting off with three hits including a double and a home run in the first game. Carlos Delgado also homered, giving him thirty-six on the season. Jose Reyes had two hits.
As good as Williams was, his performance could not compare to that of Oliver Perez in game two. The young lefty was absolutely brilliant, pitching a complete game shutout and striking out six. He allowed just five hits, four of them singles, and one walk. Control had been a major problem for Perez even when he'd looked good prior to this game, but he didn't walk anyone until there were two outs in the ninth inning. This was easily Perez's best start of the season and it was his first complete game, let alone shutout, since 2004. Maybe I should wait for him to pitch well twice in a row, or at least once against a team that hasn't played three doubleheaders in five days, to get excited, but I choose not to. The Pirates got robbed.
Perez was nearly removed from this game in the sixth inning, as a pinch hitter stood in the on deck circle before the Mets broke the game open. But a two-run triple from Endy Chavez gave the Mets a six-run lead and Perez got to bat for himself, grounding out. Green once again led the way for the Mets' offense with three more hits including his thirteenth home run of the season. Reyes also went deep as his seventeenth long ball led off the bottom of the first inning. Carlos Beltran returned to the lineup, drew two walks and stole a base.
Having pushed the Braves to the brink of elimination and shaved their own magic number by three in one day, the Mets (86-52) now turn their attention to a potential playoff preview. The NL West-leading Dodgers (74-65) will be in town for four games to have their late season morale diminished. Game one will see Tom Glavine (12-6, 4.13) take on Brad Penny (15-7, 3.97) in a matchup that could very well recur come October. ¶ joe | 12:17 AM |
