The NY Mets wasted a strong spot start by ex Brewer Nelson Figueroa, as Jeff Suppan and 3 relievers helped the Milwaukee Brewers win 4-2 Sunday at Citifield, salvaging the series finale of the 3 game weekend set. Figueroa, subbing for Mike Pelfrey(right forearm tendinitis), battled hard for 6 innings, allowing 5 hits and 3 runs with 3 Ks and 2 walks. His teammates felt for the veteran, “He did a tremendous job,” 3b David Wright said. “Feel bad offensively not being able to go back that kind of performance up.”
The Mets jumped out to a 1-0 lead after 1b Carlos Delgado doubled home LF Daniel Murphy, for his team leading 14th rbi. The Brewers scored single runs vs Figueroa on outs.(3rd inning ground out & sac fly in the 5th) Ex Met Mike Cameron hit a tremendous homer to left center in the 6th, giving Suppan the lead and runs to work with. The grizzled veteran,who helped defeat the Mets in the 2006 NLCS, spread out 8 hits over 6 innings, with 4 Ks and 1 walk. He was chased by a Omir Santos triple in the 7th. Reliever Mitch Stetter allowed Santos to come home after SS Jose Reyes beat out an infield single to make it 3-2.
The Brewers scratched out a huge insurance run in the 9th with veteran C Jason Kendall plating 2b Rickie Weeks vs Bobby Parnell. Brewers veteran RH Todd Coffey earned his 1st save in 2009 with 8 tough outs including Murphy and Wright to seal the win for Milwaukee.
Star of the Game: Suppan-Steady veteran who punches in the clock and gives an honest days work
Game Notes:Reyes hit the 1st triple in Citifield history in the 5th…Manager Jerry Manuel went with offense today, as Fernando Tatis(0 for 4) played 2b for Luis Castillo & Gary Sheffield gave RF Ryan Church a day off. This was Tatis’ first ML start at 2nd…Reyes and RF Daniel Murphy had 3 hits apiece….Wright went hitless for the 2nd consecutive day after getting hits in the first 10 contests
Something to store away: Team gets plenty of runners on base but has not strung hits together, going .236 with runners in scoring position thru 12 games.”We just haven’t clicked yet with runners in scoring position — and we will. We have too many good hitters,” manager Jerry Manuel said. “I can’t say that at this point this early in the season that I’m upset with anybody’s approach. I think it’s more into anxiety than anything. It’s wanting to get it done. And that’s not a bad thing.”
Who says life is fair?: Figueroa was designated for assignment post game while the team purchased the contract of LH Casey Fossum from Triple-A Buffalo to take his spot
Next Game: Team is off Monday, Before traveling to St. Louis for a 3 game series Tuesday thru Thursday, games 1 & 2 at 8:15 pm, Finale at 1:40 pm
