Mets swingman Pat Misch pitched great and left in line to get the win but a 8th inning homer by Chicago enigma Alfonso Soriano helped the host Cubs defeat the game New York Mets 5-2. The Cubs LF made 2-3 bad fielding mistakes and was being booed until he connected with 2 on vs. Mets RH Brian Stokes(1-3,3.34,7 holds). “Right pitch, bad execution … and you pay for it,” said Stokes, who had thrown 12 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings since Aug. 3. “We’ve been struggling, and it just makes it that much worse to give away a game like that.”
Tough day for Misch. He grew up in the Chicago area and used to take the train to Cubs games as a kid. “I had a bunch of family and friends and my wife here. It was just a good day,” said Misch, who allowed one run on six hits in a career-high seven innings. “I actually eat a lot before games and I couldn’t eat anything this morning. It took me a couple of innings just to settle down.”
Crafty Cubs veteran lefty Ted Lilly also pitched great. He pitched into the 8th(7 and a third) while allowing 6 hits and 2 runs. 3B Fernando Tatis and CF Angel Pagan had 2 hits to lead NY. Cubs RH Kevin Gregg(5-5,4.15,23 saves) recorded the final 2 outs of the 8th for win, while Carlos Marmol(2-2,3.58) struck out two in the 9t to help earn his 6th save.
Star of the Game: Misch- Deserved a better fate. Pitched his butt off and earned the right to close out the season in the rotation.
Mets starting line-up:
1- CF Angel Pagan
2- 2B Luis Castillo
3- 1B Daniel Murphy
4- RF Jeff Francoeur
5- 3B Fernando Tatis
6- C Omir Santos
7-LF Cory Sullivan
8- SS Wilson Valdez
9- Pitcher
Game Notes: Reports circulating that SS Jose Reyes might need surgery on his injured hamstring. The Mets put out the following response today,“Jose Reyes continues to receive physical therapy for a torn hamstring tendon behind the right knee. Should he not respond to the physical therapy, surgery is an option.”…Mets have lost 6 of 7….3B David Wright, recovering from a concussion, will join the team Saturday in Chicago and should be activated from the DL Tuesday… C Omir Santos and Tatis had rbi for NY
Next Game:
Game 2 of 3 vs. the Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago
4:10 pm
Mets RH Bobby Parnell(3-6,5.08) vs. Cubs RH Ryan Dempster(7-7,4.07)
