LH Pat Misch(2-4,4.71) pitched a complete game shut out while RF Jeff Francoeur backed him with both his glove and bat, leading the visiting NY Mets to a 4-0 victory over the Florida Marlins Sunday afternoon at Land Shark Stadium in Miami. Misch, who was in danger of losing his rotation slot after an awful outing earlier in the week, allowed 8 hits but retired the final 13 Florida batters. The crafty lefty, who has not pitched past the 7th all season, struck out 2 and walked 3. Francoeur drove in 2 runs with his 14 homer and robbed Chris Cohhlan of a homer in the 7th.
The win almost assuredly ends the Marlins faint NL wild card hopes with the Colorado Rockies leading by 5 with 6 games remaining for the Fish. Sweet revenge for Fans of the Mets, who saw the Marlins end their post season bid on the last day of the season in both 2007 and 2008. “It was great to get a win,” Misch said. “These guys have been beating us the last few years and knocking us out.”
Marlins swing starter Chris Volstad(9-13,5.21) went 4 innings, allowing 5 hits and 3 runs. He struck out 2 and walked 2, allowing Francoeur’s homer for 2 runs. Rookie C Josh Thole plated the other run in the 2nd via a sacrifice fly. Coghlan and CF Cameron Maybin had 2 hits a piece to lead the Marlins offense. 3 relievers followed to pitch 5 innings. Only a homer by Mets 2B Anderson Hernandez in the 5th dented the Florida bullpen corps.
Star of the Game: Misch- Showed some stones throwing 110 pitches in 87 degree Miami heat! Should be strongly considered for some role on the 2010 Mets. Carried a 10.13 ERA in 3 games vs. the Marlins. “Misch made some good pitches when he needed to, and got out of some jams,” said Marlins 2B Dan Uggla, who stranded six runners. “Hats off to him.”
Mets starting line-up:
1- CF Angel Pagan
2- 2B Anderson Hernandez
3- 1B Daniel Murphy
4- RF Jeff Francoeur
5- LF Cory Sullivan
6- 3B Fernando Tatis
7- C Josh Thole
8- SS Wilson Valdez
9- Pitcher
Game Notes: In a season that they have caught few breaks, NY got one Sunday. Career Mets killer Josh Johnson,who posts a 7-0 record with a 2.30 ERA, was scratched with the flu…. 3B David Wright and CF Carlos Beltran were both given the day off…. A rarity in the National League: Mets used only nine players!! A Clean line-up sheet!… Misch entered the game with a 1-11 career record.. NY turned a rare 1-6-3 double play to escape a jam in the 5th…The Mets took the series with the win Sunday, going 2-1…. 2 of Valdez 3 hits did not leave the infield… Florida won the season series by a 11-7 margin… NY turned 3 double plays to support Misch… Florida had 11 base runners in the first 5 innings but went 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position
Next Game:
Monday, start 3 game series vs Washington at Nationals Park
7:10 pm
Mets RH Nelson Figueroa(2-7, 4.88) vs. Nationals LH Ross Detwiller(0-6,5.71)
