Mets starter Tim Redding pitched 6 2/3 rd innings to rest a an injury riddled staff while his lineup put out a season high 17 hits, helping New York defeat the host Florida Marlins, 10-3 Thursday afternoon at Land Shark Stadium. 3B Fernando Tatis and CF Angel Pagan homered while the club scored 9 runs with two out. “We were able to put everything together today,” Redding said. The win snaps the Mets losing streak at 5 and was done in sweltering conditions with heat reaching almost 100 degrees. 1B Daniel Murphy added 3 rbi while 2B Anderson Hernandez added 3 hits.
Redding,making his 2nd start since July 2nd, allowed only three runs(all lead off homers including one to LF Chris Coghlan to open the game. Coghlan homered again in the 6th while 2B Dan Uggla added the third solo shot in the 7th. “That’s better than three three-run home runs,” Redding(2-4,5.94) said. The veteran righty allowed only 5 hits while striking out 5 and walking 2. The team turned 3 double plays and played solid ball all around for 9 innings.
The game was played in front of less than 5000 fans and many Mets fans out cheered the fans from Miami.”This stadium has been empty for years,” he said. “It’s just sad. But it’s 90 to 100 degrees here every day from the middle of May to the beginning of October. I wouldn’t want to be out there sitting in the stands roasting, either.”
Marlins starter Anibal Sanchez(2-5,4.96) pitched into the 4th in his 2nd start sicne recovering from a shoulder strain. He was consistently behind batters and was hit hard, allowing 8 hits and 4 runs(2 earned). 7 of 8 Mets starters had hits: Pagan, SS Wilson Valdez, Murphy, RF Jeff Francoeur, LF Cory Sullivan, Tatis and C Omir Santos. 4 Mets relievers did not allow a run over the final 2 and a third frames vs. an outstanding Marlins hitting line-up. The Mets leader summed up the day fairly well, ”When you get good pitching and the guy is throwing strikes, it makes it a lot easier,” Mets manager Jerry Manuel said. “As long as the tempo is right, the dog days don’t seem as bad.”
Star of the Game: Mets team- A rare quality start and 17 hits make this award a given. All around great team effort.
Mets starting line-up:
1- CF Angel Pagan
2- SS Wilson Valdez
3- 1B Daniel Murphy
4- RF Jeff Francoeur
5- LF Cory Sullivan
6- 3B Fernando Tatis
7- C Omir Santos
8- 2B Anderson Hernandez
9- Pitcher
Game Notes: LF Gary Sheffield and 2B Luis Castillo were given the dayoff, Sheffield is nursing a sore back…. LH Pat Misch will make his 1st start of the season Friday vs. the Cubs at Wrigleu Field… 3 Names to remember with September call-ups approaching: C Josh Thole, RHP Eddie Kunz and 1B-OF Nick Evans… 1B-OF Chris Carter was claimeds off waivers by… the Yank$$s!! The Red Sox then pulled him back and will end up sending him to NY this offseason as part of the Billy Wagner trade. Typical class, all money move the Evil Empire… The Mets have 90 Million dollars in players on the DL right now or more than the budget of 17 ML teams!!!
Next Game:
Friday
Game 1 of 3 game series vs. the Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago
Mets LH Pat Misch(0-1,4.09) vs. Cubs LH Ted Lilly(9-8,3.40)
