A return of #2 starter Mike Pelfrey from injury ignited the New York Mets offense Saturday, helping them defeat the lowly Washington Nationals 8-2 Saturday afternoon at Citifield in Queens. RF Ryan Church drove in 3 runs and the hometeam greatly benefited from 3 costly Nats errors. Pelfrey, making his return to the rotation after missing a turn with a forearm injury, was strong over 5 and 2/3rd innings, allowing 6 hits and 2 runs while walking three and K-ing 1.
The Mets bats jumped on Nationals starter Daniel Cabrera with runs in the first 3 frames, combining timely hitting with shoddy Washington defense. Mets 3b David Wright plated the 1st two runs on a fly out error to center. Church then drove in the Franchise with an rbi single to make it 3-0. NY added a run in the 2nd and 3rd on an infield single and another fielding miscue. A day after NY went 2 for 18 with runners in scoring position, stranding 13 runners, the team went 4 for 11, to raise the season tally to .253. ”The last couple games we’ve been terrible — pretty much the whole season,” Church said. “Everybody knows that we’re a good team. I think once it clicks, it’s not going to stop.”
Washington scored single runs in the 4th & 6th on rbi hits from talented CF Elijah Dukes.(Triple and single) The Mets added insurance runs in the 6th to make the score 8-2. Pelfrey was the key today, and his Manager sounded like a proud papa post game, seeing potential.”I saw good stuff. I didn’t see great stuff,” Jerry Manuel said. “He’s nasty right now, but he’s not filthy.” At one point , Pelfrey had 14 consecutive ground ball outs.
Star of the Game: Entire Mets team, competition(or lack there o f ) aside this was probably the best game they have played top to bottom this season. Good hitting , pitching and defense.
Game Notes: CF Carlos Beltran(3 hits) is hitting an NL leading .415…. Mackenzie Brown, a 12 yr old Little Leaguer, threw out the first pitch after she threw a perfect game AGAINST BOYS!!!She met several players and her favorite, Wright, gave her a bat. Mackenzie and her family sat behind homeplate…Nationals are now 0 and 8 on the road and 3-13 on the year… Sean Green, Bobby Parnell and Brian Stokes combined for 3 1/3 innings of scoreless ball after Pelfrey… Tha Nationals have allowed 12 unearned runs in 16 games
Next Game:
Conclusion of weekend series vs the Nationals at Citifield,1:10
Mets Oliver Perez (1-1,8.35) vs Nationals rookie Jordan Zimmermann(1-0,3.00)
Star of the Game #2: Brown… Sign her, Omar!!!!!
