In a season of complete and total embarrassment, the 2009 NY Mets(44-51) continued to resemble an 80s sitcom but this one runs for 162 episodes. Friday night their ace pitcher, LH Johan Santana, gave up a huge two run homer to the opposition starting pitcher,Mike Hampton(ironically, an ex Met) helping the Houston Astros(50-46) defeat the Mets 5-4. For a team that has lost games missing third base, dropping pop-ups,etc this one has to rank among the toppers. I am considering a petition to the Major League offices asking them to remove the T from the NY National league team, how about the New York Mes?
NY scored in the 1st after 3B David Wright singled in CF Angel Pagan, who singled to open the game and moved to 2nd after 2B Luis Castillo walked. Santana’s gave the run back in the home 1st after 3 consecutive singles. The game stabilized and stood at 1-1 in the bottom of the 4th. Ex Met INF Jeff Keppinger doubled to bring Hampton to the plate. Hampton crushed the first pitch he saw from Santana into the left field porch, making it 3-1 Astros. “I was able to stay back long enough to hit his changeup,” said Hampton, who came in with a .310 average this season. “It was just one of those things. I probably got lucky, but it was good for us.”
To their credit, the Mets rallied to tie in the 5th with Castillo and new RF Jeff Francoeur driving in runs. Santana pitched into the 7th but allowed 12 hits, tying his carrer high. Fill in 1B Chris Coste(Astros star 1B Lance Berkman is out with calf injury) doubled home two runs in the 5th to hand Santana(11-8,3.12) his 8th loss of the season. The Mets got 13 hits but stranded 10 runners and have lost 6 of 8. They have scored fewer than 5 runs 15 times in 20 games.
Hampton(6-7, 4.74) was good on the mound as well, going 5 and 2 thirds innings while allowing 8 hits and 4 runs, with 7 Ks and 4 walks. “I just wanted to stick with the game plan, mixing my pitches in and out, up and down,” he said. “I did that for the most part.” Mets C Omir Santos homered in the 6th to make it 5-4 Houston. However, The Astros used 3 relievers to get to closer Jose Valverde, who earned his 11th save with a 1-2-3 ninth on only 7 pitches.
Star of the Game: Hampton- His homer should be on the Mets 2009 season summary DVD. What is next for this team? I need a hug!
Ace? : I got ripped to shreds by a ton of my readers when I did not have Santana on the All Star roster. Tonight’s game is a great example why. Don’t give me they are missing players, not scoring,etc. That has nothing to do with getting taken to pleasure town by the other teams starting pitcher! Ok?! I don’t care how good a hitter Hampton is, how the hell is this guy going to get out Pujols, Utley or ManRam if he cannot get out this cat? Please. And I know this guy has pitched great his last couple of starts and has been amazing throughout his career in the 2nd half(8-0 in 15 2008 2nd half starts) . But this team is demoralized right now and big players step up when their number is up. He failed miserably tonight and is great example of why this team is a joke.
Mets starting line-up:
1- CF Angel Pagan
2- 2B Luis Castillo
3- 3B David Wright
4- RF Jeff Francoeur
5- LF Fernando Tatis
6- 1B Daniel Murphy
7- C Omir Santos
8- SS Angel Berroa
9- Pitcher
Game Notes: Reports have ex closer Billy Wagner possibly around 2 weeks away, as he will begin a rehab assignment next week… CF Carlos Beltran will have his knee reexamined in the next couple of days, a strong possibility exists he might undergo surgery and miss the remainder of the year… OF Gary Sheffield missed another game with his hamstring issue. INF Alex Cora was also out with his injured thumb, which he re- injured earlier this week… Santos and Castillo both had 3 hits to pace the NY offense… Team will have to make a roster move before Saturday’s game with Niese scheduled to start, Sheffield to the DL?… Hampton trails only trails only Chicago Cubs Carlos Zambrano(19) for the active pitchers homer lead with 16 … Francoeur was thrown out at the plate in the 7th on a great play by Houston RF Hunter Pence after 1B Daniel Murphy singled. Great play by Pence and C Pudge Rodriquez.
Next Game:
Game 2 of 3 game series at Houston vs the Astros at Minute Maid Park
Saturday, 7:05 pm
Mets LH Jonathan Niese(0-0,5.91) vs. Astros RH Russ Ortiz(3-4,4.33)
