This weekend was filled with ups and downs. After being swept out of Pittsburgh (a phrase no Mets fan thought they would have to say this year), the Mets needed a bounce back series against the last place Nationals to pick up some momentum for the monumental tasks that lie ahead, as the Mets face off with the first place Phillies and the New York Yankees, possibly the best team in the game.
The weekend series started off well, as the Mets got an extra inning victory on a David Wright double in the 10th that drove in two runs. K-Rod came in and got the save as usual, and the Mets were off to a good start. Tim Redding put in his best performance of the year, combining with the bullpen to give up one run to a very good offensive team.
The 2nd game of the series did not go as well. John Maine and his dead arm gave up seven earned runs in four innings including three home runs. The Mets only scored one run on four hits against John Lannan in possibly the low point of their season. It was Lannan’s first career complete game, and the Mets worst offensive effort to date this season against a lower tier pitcher. It could have taken the wind out of the sails of the team for Sunday’s game, costing them another series they’d probably want back in September.
Instead, the Mets came out firing on Sunday, scoring five runs in the first inning off rookie Craig Stammen to give Livan Hernandez all the support he needed in another solid effort on his part. Hernandez pitched seven solid innings of shut out ball, using his usual tactics of keeping batters off balance en route to his fifth victory of the season. Pedro Feliciano, Bobby Parnell, and K-Rod combined to finish out the game and give the Mets a much needed series victory going into the roughest patch in their schedule all season.
The Mets get a day off today. Any day off is a good thing for a team as ravaged by injuries as this team. It will give the bullpen a rest, give the starting pitchers an extra day between starts, and give the overworked line up a day to rest it’s bones. The Phillies are coming to town after losing two of three to the Dodgers. Any time the Mets get to play the Phils in Citi Field, I feel like they have a distinct advantage. Home runs don’t leave Citi Field very easily, and that’s a huge part of Philly’s success. They can overcome huge deficits with a few swings of the bat. Manufacturing runs is the way to win at Citi, and with the Mets lineup lacking any real power presence, manufacturing runs is their best shot at scoring, and winning games.
Johan Santana will start the series off against J.A. Happ in what should be a mismatch in the Mets favor, although Happ has been very effective so far this season, coming in with a 4-0 record and an ERA of 2.48. Santana has been slightly less effective in his last two starts, but is still the class of the National League and gives the Mets their best shot to win time and time again in his starts. Mike Pelfrey matches up against Cole Hamels in the second game of the series. Pelfrey got rocked in his last start. Hopefully he can rebound against the reigning World Series MVP. The last game of the series pits wild card Tim Redding against Old Man Baseball Jamie Moyer. The Mets have had recent success against Moyer, but he seems to give them trouble more than not. Taking two out of three against Philadelphia would bring the Mets to a game and a half back. Losing the series would push them farther back than they already are which could spell disaster with the Yankees on the radar.
Let’s Go Mets!
Any take on the words between Beltran and Laroche ole’ disgruntled one? Bout time Beltran showed some fire…
Coming soon…