The New York Mets wasted an outstanding start from LH Oliver Perez on one pitch, as INF Felipe Lopez hit a 7th inning grand slam, leading the St. Louis Cardinals to a come from behind 4-3 victory Friday night at Busch Stadium in Missouri. The Mets mercurial southpaw deserved better on this night, allowing only a run and 4 hits over 6 1/3 innings. Perez struck out 4 and walked 3 while throwing 97 pitches(59 for strikes). However, the NY bullpen could not hold the 1-0 lead and both Fernando Nieve and lefty specialist Raul Valdez struggled to escape the 7th. Lopez, a .368 hitters with 93 rbi in 94 at bats with the bases loaded, launched a 2-1 Valdez offering into the seats in left field. RF Jeff Francoeur had 2 hits and 2 runs for the Mets. The Cardinals bullpen fought off late rallies in both the 8th and 9th but held on for the win, NY has lost 5 of 6.
CRAFTY CARPENTER: St Louis’ veteran ace was off early but Chris Carpenter put on a clinic on how to win and compete without your best stuff. Over 7 innings, he allowed 4 hits and a run(uneared) while K-ing 10 and walking 3. Big difference compared to his last start in Milwaukee when he was touched for 7 runs and 3 home runs.
WOOO: Pro Wrestling legend Ric Flair threw out three first pitches. No truth to the rumor the Mets fans feel like they have been in the Figure Four Leg Lock for the past 4 years.
JUMBO JEFF: Francoeur has hit safely in the first ten games and is four shy of the record set most recently by 3B David Wright last season. The Mets RF is now hitting .457(16 for 35) and is one of the better moves made by GM Omar Minaya.
BAD BULLPEN: A huge strength in the early part of the season(1.95 ERA, 2nd best in majors) killed them Friday, as the relief corps did not get it done. To make matters worse , Top LH Pedro Feliciano was unavailable due to a stomach problem which put Valdez in the game. Just another rough night for NY, “It’s frustrating, there’s no doubt about it,” manager Jerry Manuel said. “You have to applaud the fact we have at least in these first 10 games given ourselves a shot to win.”
NEXT GAME:
Saturday, 4:10 pm
National TV Game on Fox
Cardinals LH Jaime Garcia(1-0,1.50) vs. Mets LH Johan Santana(1-1,4.91)
