The New York Mets received another great performance from waiver pick up Fernando Nieve and banged out 16 hits, leading them to a decisive 11-0 rout of the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday night at Citi-Field. Nieve, now 3-0, pitched 6 shut out innings while new clean up hitter RF Ryan Church had 3 hits and 2 rbi. Offensively, 3B David Wright was 4 for 4 with 3 runs while rookie 1B Nick Evans(2 hits, 2 runs, 2 rbi) homered for NY. Fernando Tatis drove in 3, his first multiple rbi game since May 18. The 11 runs are a season high for Mets.
Nieve was again outstanding for the Mets and continues to provide quality starts after being claimed off waivers from the Houston Astros. in March. With the team down two injured starters in RH John Maine and LH Oliver Perez, Fernando has helped keep the Mets afloat with all of the injuries, over 18 2/3 innings he allowed 10 hits and 3 runs in his 3 starts. “He has to keep pitching for us,” Mets manager Jerry Manuel said. “Shutout innings. Giving us an opportunity to win. He looks like his ball really gets on guys. … We’re going to keep pitching out there.”
Nieve(3-0,1.31) allowed only 3 hits over 6 frames, while striking out 5 and walking 4(walked Cardinals superstar 1B Albert Pujols twice). His teammates have taken notice of the talented righty as well .”He has tremendous stuff. When he first got called up I didn’t know too much about him but he catches your attention,” Wright said. “I like his demeanor, the confidence he has, and hopefully he keeps going.”
With the team down 3 of the vaunted “core” 1B Carlos Delgado, SS Jose Reyes and CF Carlos Beltran, any win is bonus. Wednesday night we saw some good things from people the Mets need to step up, a Church, a Tatis and a Evans can help this club a lot. And they are capable. The Franchise outlined the Mets battle plan for the coming games,”I like how Jerry put it. ‘Each win takes us a game off the schedule and gets us one game closer to getting some of those guys back,’” Wright said of his injury-ravaged club.
Star of the Game: Nieve- Unbelievable find by Mets GM Omar Minaya and his staff
Mets starting line-up:
1- SS Alex Cora
2- 2B Luis Castillo
3- 3B David Wright
4- RF Ryan Church
5- LF Fernando Tatis
6- CF Fernando Martinez
7- 1B Nick Evans
8- C Brian Schneider
9- Pitcher
Don’t think, THROW!!!: “I was thinking too much when I was with the Astros. The first time it was when [Roger] Clemens signed,” said Nieve, claimed off waivers from Houston in March. “Now, I just think about doing my job.”
Game Notes: The team recalled INF Argenis Reyes from Triple-A Buffalo and designated LH Jon Switzer for assignment…Wright’s 4 hits were a career high… Injured starting pitchers, RH John Maine and LH Oliver Perez, both had productive bullpen sessions Wednesday. Perez threw 50 and felt strong. He believes he just has to build his arm strength up to throw 100 pitches. Maine tossed 40 and had some achiness but was pain-free. The righty thinks he needs one or tow more outings before returning to the big club…. Relievers RH Brian Stokes, LH Pat Misch and RH Bobby Parnell all pitched a shut out inning for NY
Sheff update: 40 yr old Mets OF Gary Sheffield was being held out of the line up for the 3rd straight game and was given a cortisone shot behind his right knee Wednesday. The team leader in homers(8) was a waiver pick-up after he cut by the Detroit Tigers. He is available to pinch hit in an emergency but this procedure should get him back for Friday’s game with the hated New York Yank$$s. “The best scenario is the route we’re taking right now,” Manuel said. “If we can get these two days he should be ready to go.”
Next Game:
Thursday, Finale of 4 game set vs the Cardinals at Citi-Field
1:10 pm
Mets LH Johan Santana(8-5,3.22) vs. Cardinals RH Chris Carpenter(5-1,1.53)
