Tough loss Wednesday night for the Mets in the 2nd game of the season, as they rallied late down 5 only to lose in the 10th, as the Florida Marlins won 7-6. NY trailed 6-1 going into home 7th and took advantage of some wildness and ineffectiveness by the Marlins bullpen. Several story lines to look at from this one.
Maine attraction: RH SP John Maine, who the Mets desperately need to step up, battled but just seemed a bit lacking in the power department. He is trying to throw more breaking ball as well as offspeed stuff. John also struggled with 1st pitch strikes(11/24) but he escaped some jams and left with the team still in the game. Final stat line: 5 innings, 8 hits, 4 runs(all earned), 3 strikeouts and 1 walk. He allowed home runs to 3B Jorge Cantu and SS Hanley Ramirez,(More on them later) while throwing 53 strikes out of 92 pitches. About a “C” game for Maine.
Good fight: Mets showed tremendous guts and discipline to rally in this game. You also have seen over the first 2 games that the moves this club made in the offseason greatly improved the depth, making them a harder team to play against. Jason Bay, Gary Matthews Jr and Rod Barajas make pitchers work and are not easy outs. You add these type of grinders to 3B David Wright, OF Angel Pagan and RF Jeff Francoeur, and you have a solid attack. Very good sign for things to come in 2010. This team will fight and play til they have 27 outs.
WOW: I talked about the Marlins infield in my season preview and this group was on display Wednesday. 2B Dan Uggla joined Cantu and Ramirez with home runs, an amazing feat. Ramirez’ homer, a lined opposite field shot to right, was especially impressive.
NO FERNANDO!!!!: Fernando Tatis was out at the plate to end a Mets rally in the 7th. NY managed to rally and plate 2 runs vs Marlins SP Ricky Nolasco and 2 relievers with 3 walks, a single, sacrifice fly from Barajas and bases loaded walk to 2B Luis Castillo. David Wright came to the plate with bases full and the score 6-3. Julio Veras then threw a wild pitch that went towards the 1B side of the backstop, INF-OF Fernando Tatis tried to score and was thrown out at the plate on a great play from Veras and C John Baker. Tatis was trying to make a play but he needs to realize who was up and the game situation. That said, a great play from the Marlins.
Rookie debut: Hot prospect RHP Jenrry Mejia followed Maine to the mound and had mixed results in his major league debut. He allowed 3 of the first four hits but then retired 3 o f the final 4 Marlins, inducing a ground out to Ramirez to end the frame. Solid job in his 1st ML game. Final stat line: 1 inning, 3 hits(rbi double), 1 r, 1 strike out, 13 pitches(9 strikes)
Bullpen Blues: Sean Green pitched the 7th(2 hits, 1 run(homer to Uggla), 1 K) then he was followed Perpetual Pedro Feliciano(1 inning, 1 walk) and Francisco Rodriquez, who looks great early, his stuff is on BIG TIME.(1 inning, 2 hits, 2 Ks) Hisanori Takahashi , making his ML debut after pitching in Japan for years, took the mound and the loss after allowing a leadoff hit, sacrifice and RBI single to C Rony Paulino to up the middle. Fernando Nieve then entered the the game to extinguish the fire, retiring the final two Marins.
Stat Leaders: Amazingly, Marlins outhit Mets 17-6. NY pitchers in jams all night.However, the Mets drew 9 walks compared to 3(1 intentional) for Florida. The Marlins pen walked an incredible 6 over 3 and a third innings… No Met had more than 1 hit while Wright, Bay and Matthews walked twice… Castillo had 2 rbi…. Bay(Double) and SS Alex Cora(Triple) had extra base hits.. Underrated OF Cody Ross had 4 hits for Florida… Wright stole his base of the year in the 9th
Good luck to Nelson: Popular P Nelson Figueroa, who was a controversial cut in training camp, was claimed off waivers by the 2 time defending NL East Champion Philadelphia Phillies. He will more than likely to report to the Minors but his versatility has to be viewed as a major asset with all of the injuries to both the starters and relievers on the Phils. GOOD LUCK TO NELSON! Real class act who deserves to be appreciated.
Medical Updates: SS Jose Reyes is on schedule to come off the DL Saturday and will play in a Florida State League game Thursday. CF Carlos Beltran has been cleared to run and is progressing as expected. Look for #15 to be back in Early May.
Next Game:
Thursday, Series finale vs the Marlins
7 pm
Marlins LH Nate Robertson vs. Mets RH Jon Niese
