The New York Mets greatly improved bullpen could not hold a 1 run 8th inning lead, losing to the Florida Marlins,4-3 Wednesday at Citifield. Mets ace Johan Santana pitched a strong game, going 7 innings while allowing 5 hits and 2 first inning runs. He struck out 7 and walked 3, while throwing 109 pitches(71 strikes). Fernando Tatis continued his hot hitting ways, going 3 for 4 with a homer.
The game did not start well for the best pitcher in the game, as Santana allowed 3 hard hit balls among the first 4 Marlin batters. A triple ,sacrifice fly and Jorge Cantu homer made it 2-0 Florida. The Mets answered with a leadoff triple from SS Jose Reyes and sacrifice by Alex Cora to make it 2-1. The game then became about the starting pitchers as as Johan and Florida stud Josh(2-0,2.60) Johnson(6 innings, 9 hits and 3 runs with 3 Ks and a walk) settled down and turn this into a old fashioned pitchers duel.
The Mets tied the game at 2 in the 4th after C Ramon Castro knocked in Tatis(signle and stolen base to get to 2b) with a rbi single. Tatis brought the house down with a homer to left to lead off the 6th, making it 3-2 NY. However, Mets set-up man J.J. Putz walked the first two batters of the home 8th. After a sacrifice advanced both runners a base, Ross singled in both runners to make it 4-3.
The Mets made it interesting in both the 8th and 9th innings but in what has become an alarming trend, the team could not get the big hit. The team stranded 14 runners , going 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position. OF Jeremy Reed tripled in the 8th but was stranded by Reyes and Cora. David Wright took a called third strike in the 9th, ending his tough day with 5 runners left on base and 2 Ks. Ex Met prospect Matt Lindstrom then retired pinch hitter Omir Santos on a pop up to end the game and deal NY a frustrating loss.
Star of the Game: Ross- Game winning hit for this scrappy, gritty ball player. A complete and total pain in the butt to play against who is a winner, typical, overachieving Marlin!
2nd Guess?: Mets Manager Jerry Manuel made the curious decision to pinch hit Omir Santos(cold as the bullpen catcher) for Casto.(2 hits,rbi)”I thought Santos had a better shot,” Manuel said. “When you have a little shorter swing you have a better chance against a guy throwing in the upper 90s [mph]. His Manager called him from the dugout and used it as a stall tactic to try to get into Lindstrom’s head. “I thought Santos had a better shot,” Manuel said. “When you have a little shorter swing you have a better chance against a guy throwing in the upper 90s [mph].”
Game Notes: 1b Carlos Delgado and Luis Castillo remain out with injuries , Manuel hopes to have both back for Friday’s contest…This is the 13th game out of 21 that the Mets have played that has been decided by 2 runs or less…Team stole 3 bases…. The team is 6-6 at Citifield totaling 10 triples and 7 home runs with the huge dimensions
Santana stats: How good is this guy? 3-1 with a 1.10 era, 2 runs or less in 11 straight starts. Pen cost him 7 potential wins last season, including 5 9th inning blown saves. 1 loss in 22 starts!!!!
Next Game:
Team is off Thursday, travels to Philadelphia for a 3 game series vs the World Champions at Citizens Bank Park
Fridays pitching matchup
7:10
Mets Mike Pelfrey(2-0,6.32) vs Phillies Chan Ho Park(0-0,7.16)
Saturday game time 3:40 pm
Sunday game time 1:35 pm
