The red hot NY Mets scored 5 runs in the 2nd supporting ace lefty Johan Santana, who pitched 7 strong innings, leading them to a 7-0 victory over the Colorado Rockies Thursday afternoon at Citi-Field in Queens. NY pounded out 5 consecutive hits in the 5 run fifth, led by SS Angel Berroa’s 2 run double. CF Angel Pagan, 2B Alex Cora and LF Cory Sullivan had two hits a piece to pace the 11 Mets attack. The Mets have now won 5 in a row, while knocking the Rockies out of the NL wild card lead.
Santana(12-8) was great from pitch one to games end. Johan allowed 4 hits while striking out 8 and walking only 1. He avoided a major blow when 2B Ian Stewart’s drive was foul with the bases loaded in the 4th. Johan then struck Stewart out and the fire was extinguished. “Obviously, our ace did his job today,” said Alex Cora, who had two of the Mets’ 11 hits. “It’s just about getting ahead and we’re pretty confident right now offensively.”
The improving Mets offense hammered one of the better road pitchers(4-2, 1.93 ERA in 8 road starts) in the game in the 2nd, as they crushed Rockies starter RH Jason Hammel(5-6,4.66) for 5 runs on 6 hits. 1B Daniel Murphy doubled and Jeff Francoeur singled to start the inning. Sullivan singled in a run vs his former club to make it 1-0. C Omir Santos, a great signing by embattled Mets GM Omar Minaya, singled home Francoeur and it was 2-0 NY. SS Angel Berroa, drove in his first two Mets runs with a huge double to right center, Berroa advancing to third on an error by Rockies CF Dexter Fowler. Pagan capped the inning with another single, scoring Berroa and ending Hammel’s day very early. His stat line: 1 1/3 innings, 7 hits, 5 runs and 1 strikeout. His explanation for his outing? “I was throwing strikes, pounding the zone, but they were putting the bat on it and my putaway pitches weren’t putaway pitches,” Hammel said.
The Mets scored single runs in the 5th and 7th and both times, the franchise, 3b David Wright drove in the runs. Pagan tripled to start the 5th vs Rockies reliever Josh Fogg and Wright drove him home with a sacrifice fly. Juan Rincon entered the game in the 7th and Cora singled with 1 out. Wright then hit a drive to deep right center for a double that was almost caught by underrated RF Brad Hawpe. Cora scored and the Mets lead 7-0. Bobby Parnell(14 holds,3.96) and Tim Redding(1-4,7.03)closed out the game with cleaning innings in the 8 & 9th hi-lighted by a great double play for the final outs started by Murphy at 1st base.
Star of the Game: Santana- A much needed 7 huge innings from their ace in a double-header. He closes July with a 3-2 record with a 1.82 ERA in 5 starts. “Every time you win a game it’s good. But it’s even better when you have a chance to just keep adding to it,” Santana said. “That’s what I was trying to do today and at the same time I was having fun. It’s good to see that. It’s good to see that everybody feels comfortable.”
Mets starting line-up:
1- CF Angel Pagan
2- 2B Alex Cora
3- 3B David Wright
4- 1B Daniel Murphy
5- RF Jeff Francoeur
6- LF Cory Sullivan
7- C Omir Santos
8- SS Angel Berroa
9- Pitchers
Colorado QBs: Many MLB fans are aware Rockies star 1B Todd Helton was the starting QB at Tennessee before Indianapolis Colts star Peyton Manning. But did you know that OF Seth Smith served as Manning’s younger brother(and NY Giants star QB) , Eli’s back up at Mississippi?
Game Notes: Reports have the Mets seeking a lefty in the pen to help out LH Pedro Feliciano….Red hot 2B Luis Castillo missed the game to be with his wife, who was giving birth…The Mets scored 5 or more runs for the only the 6th time in 21 Santana starts… The team recalled C Robinson Cancel from Triple A and designated RH Elmer Dessens for assignment. C Brian Schneider is battling a knee issue and Santos will play both ends of the doubleheader, according to Manuel.. GM Omar Minaya held a press conference today and explained the Adam Rubin Monday presser fiasco further. The two have met and Rubin has accepted his apology, saying the GM’s “remorse was sincere.” … The 5 run 2nd was the biggest Mets frame since they scored 5 in the first vs the Nationals June 7th
Next Game:
Thursday, 2nd game of day night double-header series finale vs the Rockies at Citi-Field
7:10 pm
Mets LH Jonathon Niese(1-0,4.08) vs. Rockies LH Jorge De La Rosa(8-7,4.78)
