The New York Mets(46-51) scored 8 unanswered runs after training 3-0 in the first, rallying to win not only the game but the series, beating the Houston Astros(50-48) 8-3 Sunday afternoon at Minute Maid Park in Texas. Mets 2B Luis Castillo, RF Jeff Francoeur and 3B David Wright all drove in 2 runs apiece while veteran starter Livan Hernandez(7-5) pitched 7 strong after giving up 3 runs in the first. Hernandez allowed only 4 singles after the first and threw 107 pitches for his 2nd straight win after losing the previous 4. New York won a road series for the first time since early June and went 4-6 on this 10 game road trip.
Houston scored 3 in the first vs Hernandez(36 pitches in the frame) and things did not appear to be promising. After a walk and stole base, Astros all star SS Miguel Tejada doubled home a run. LF Carlos Lee and 3b Geoff Blum followed with doubles of their own and it was quickly 3-0. The Mets defense stepped up and made two huge plays to help their crafty righty escape further damage. CF Angel Pagan threw out a runner at the plate on a single by RF Hunter Pence while C Brian Schneider then caught Pence stealing 2nd to end the inning and the Astros offense for the day.“Plays like that keep you on the mound,” Hernandez said. “They saved one run. That was big.”
The Mets banged out 13 hits and looked like a pro offense on consecutive days for the first time in quite a while. All 8 starters had a hit and they also stole 2 bases. Castillo got things going with a triple vs Astros starter RH Brian Moehler(7-6,5.16) to make it 3-1 in the 3rd. Wright singled home Castillo and then scored on a sacrifice fly from Francoeur to tie the game. NY took control for good in the 5th and chased Moehler with 2 runs. Pagan tripled and was plated on fielders choice from Castillo. Moehler ended his day with 4 and 2/3rd innings of work, allowing 8 hits and 5 runs. He walked 2 and struck out 2 while throwing 89 pitches.
Minute Maid Park clearly agreed with the struggling Mets hitters, who are down 10 players and have struggled since Mid June. They pounded out 38 hits and scored 22 runs in the 3 game series after scoring fewer than 5 in 15 of their last 20. The Mets skipper was pleased with the recent performance of his batters, “When you get a number of guys swinging the bats the way we’re swinging the bats right now, you feel very confident that you can get something done,” said Mets manager Jerry Manuel.
Hernandez settled down with the lead and was outstanding. Over 7 innings, he allowed 8 hits(4 after the 1st inning) and walked 1,while striking out a season high 7. His teammates did not rest on their laurels and plated 3 more runs in the 8th and 9th vs power armed Astros righty, Alberto Arias(2-0,2.02,8 holds). SS Alex Cora had an infield single and scored on pinch hitter Jeremy Reed’s triple. Wright and Francoeur added rbi’s in the 9th after a double and single, to make it 8-3. The runs against Arias are the first to score of him in 23 appearances. A nice topper to a productive weekend in what has been a tough year for both the players and followers of the Mets.
Star of the Game: Livan Hernandez- Great example of why Livo has lasted so long and why is a vital component on this club, he knows how to pitch! Got hit hard early, adjusted and threw 7 big frames. Livan also struck out future hall of fame catcher Ivan ”Pudge” Rodriquez swinging 3 times!
Mets starting line-up:
1- CF Angel Pagan
2- 2B Luis Castillo
3- 3B David Wright
4- 1B Daniel Murphy
5- RF Jeff Francoeur
6- LF Cory Sullivan
7- C Brian Schneider
8- SS Alex Cora
9- Pitcher
Game Notes: Francoeur has 14 rbi in 12 Mets games.“From the coaches to the players, they’ve instilled a confidence in me,” he said. “I feel comfortable at the plate, I feel that I’m going to be able to get a hit.”…. Hernandez has made 400 starts in his career….LH Pedro Feliciano(2.82, 18 holds) got two huge outs in the 8th when the game was still in doubt at 5-3… Pagan now has hit in 8 straight games…. The series win was the Mets 1st in Houston since September 2006… RH Sean Green pitched the final inning and a third for his 1st save as a Met
Next Game:
Monday, start 4 game series vs the Colorado Rockies at Citi-Field in Queens
7:10 pm
Mets LH Oliver Perez(2-3, 7.68) vs. Rockies RH Ubaldo Jimenez(7-9,3.85)
