Brewers rookie 3b Casey McGehee’s 6th inning grand slam more than made up for the 2 runs his error allowed, helping Milwaukee defeat the struggling New York Mets 10-6 Monday night in Wisconsin. Milwaukee banged out 19 hits and was led by SS JJ Hardy’s near cycle(4 for 4 with a single, homer and double). Mets waiver wire pick up, right handed starter Fernando Nieve(3-1,2.25) struggled for the first time during his stint in NY, allowing 11 hits and 3 runs in 3 and third innings. RF Ryan Church had 4 hits to pace NY.
Milwaukee scored single runs in the 2nd(C Jason Kendall rbi single), 3rd(Hardy homer) and 4th(P Braden Looper’s rbi single) to go up 3. Looper pitched well and his defense hurt his cause in the 6th. McGehee then dropped what should have been the 3rd out of the frame and the Mets made him pay for it. C Brian Schneider’s double scored two the lead was down to 1 at 3-2.
Mets RH Brian Stokes was done in by one of the better offensive team in all of MLB in the bottom of the inning. After alternating outs and hits, he walked Brewers slugger 1B Prince Fielder to load the bases. McGehee then crushed a pitch to left center making it 7-2 Brewers. The rookie has the right mental approach and attitude, “You play long enough you’re going to have one of those, ‘What are you doing moments?’” McGehee said. “[I] more felt terrible for Looper in that because he was throwing the ball so well. … I felt like I took the momentum he had going and kind of put it to a halt.”
Looper(6-4) pitched into the 7th, going 6 and a third, allowing 7 hits and 3 runs(1 earned) while walking and striking out 2. His team added runs in the 7th(1) and 2 in the 8th vs the Mets relievers to make it 10-3. LH Pat Misch(5.87) was charged with 1 while rookie RH Bobby Parnell(12 holds, 5.22) struggles continued as he allowed 3 hits and 2 runs.
NY has lost 4 straight and the Mets are under .500 for the first time since May 5.(37-38) However, the team did not quit and scored 3 runs in the 9th, hi-lighted by rbi hits from 3b David Wright(double) and Gary Sheffield(Tremendous 2 run homer to left center). But this team is in a major slump with a beaten and battered roster, that is not up to major league standards. Their leader did pull punches post game, “We’re a below average team. Period,” Mets manager Jerry Manuel said.
Star of the Game: McGehee–Just what the young and talented Brewers need, another big bat!!! This kid can hit(.365,5 homers and 21 rbi with a .964 OPs in 110 at bats!!!) and has a strong future. NL pitchers beware!!!
Mets starting line-up:
1- SS Argenis Reyes
2- 1B Daniel Murphy
3- 3B David Wright
4- LF Gary Sheffield
5- RF Ryan Church
6- CF Fernando Martinez
7- C Brian Schneider
8- 2B Luis Castillo
9- Pitcher
Game Notes: Church returned after missing Sundays game with an illness…The Brewers snapped the Mets 5 game win streak vs Milwaukee…Looper is now 4-1 vs his former team…. LH SP Oliver Perez will make a rehab start Friday for Buffalo… Church made an unbelievable throw to get Looper at the plate in the 4th after Ryan Braun flied out. A serious candidate for Mets defensive play of the year!!!
Beltran update: Finally, some good news on the injury front!!! CF Carlos Beltan’s knee injury is not worse than originally feared and he should be back after the all star break. After being examined by Dr. Richard Steadman in Colorado, the surgeon agreed with Mets physician David Altchek’s prognosis of a bone bruise . Steadman’s clinic is known for its microfracture work and recently did the hip surgery on Yank$$s star 3B Alex Rodriquez.
Next Game:
Tuesday, Game 2 of 3 game series vs the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park
8:05
Mets LH Johan Santana(9-5,3.08) vs. Brewers RH Mike Burns(0-1,3.72 in 9.2 innings, 2 start of 2009)
