New comer Nate Robertson pitched 5 solid innings while 3B Jorge Cantu and 1B Gaby Sanchez added rbi doubles, leading the Florida Marlins to a 3-1 win over the New York Mets Thursday night at Citifield. Jeff Francoeur drove in the lone NY run in the 4th,doubling home Jason Bay. After a rough performance by his pen Wednesday, Florida Manager Fredi Gonzalez had to happy to get 3 strong innings from Burke Badenhop. Closer Leo Nunez, a night after throwing 40 pitches, earned his 1st save of the season with a clean ninth. With the win, the Marlins took the series 2-1. Mets host the Washington Nationals for a 3 game set over the weekend.
NICE NIESE: In his first appearance since the horrific August 2009 hamstring injury that ended his season, the Mets got a solid performance LH Jon Niese. He allowed 8 hits and 3 runs over 6 innings, while K-ing 3 and walking 2. He threw 92 pitches(63 strikes) and was 19 for 28 on first pitch strikes. A truly positive performance, giving Mets fans hope for the future.
POWER OUTAGE: Only 3 extra base hits the past two games, 3 doubles for NY.
BULLPEN BRIGHT: Mets relief corps continues to pitch well and we saw the debut of the 2nd Asian import to the relief corps. RH Ryota Igarashi pitched a shutout 7th, walking 1, which he quickly erased with a ground ball double play. Fellow countryman Hisanori Takahashi followed with an equally strong 8th. Fernando Nieve(1 batter) and Perpetual Pedro Feliciano combined to toss the 9th. The Pen total for 3 innings: 1 hit, 2 walks, no runs. Another very good sign for NY.
LINEUP CHANGES: Mets Manager Jerry Manuel went with a righty heavy line-up vs Robertson plus he wanted to get CF Angel Pagan a start in the series. Here is the lineup: Pagan, 2B Luis Castillo, 3B David Wright, LF Jason Bay, RF Jeff Francoeur, 1B Fernando Tatis, C Rod Barajas, SS Ruben Tejada(Major league debut), Pitcher
NEXT GAME:
Friday, start 3 game weekend series with the Washington Nationals at Citifield
7:10 pm
Nationals RH Garrett Mock vs. Mets RH Mike Pelfrey
DONE IN BY THE DOUBLE: Marlins hit 5 doubles out of their 8 hits vs Niese. C Ronny Paulino, Sanchez and Cantu(2) did the damage.
STAT SHEET: Pagan and Francoeur had 2 of the 7 Mets hits… No walks for NY…. Mets have gone 0 for 10 with runners in scoring position in the past 2 games… SS Jose Reyes went 0 for 4 in his rehab game in Class A St Lucie. He will work out with the team before the game Friday and is expected to be activated and start Saturday…. 2B Luis Castillo’s calves are bothering him and he will have Friday off. Look for Alex Cora to play at 2B and Tejada to stay at SS
