Daily Archives: May 4, 2008
The Mets (16–13) defeated the D’Backs (20–10) the score of 5 to 2 in Arizona today, taking two of three in the series.
For a recap and boxscore, go to SNY.
…you know, it was nice to finally see this team flip the script and actually win one of these late-game nail-biters, as opposed to be blowing them as has been the case most of the time this season…
…that said, thank you Conor Jackson, who made a throwing error in the ninth inning, which allowed Carlos Beltran to score the go-ahead run…Marlon Anderson then stepped on to extend the lead with an RBI single…
…outstanding throw from Ryan Church, to peg Chris Burke at third base…church is just so good, on all sides of the ball…
…David Wright hit a solo home run, but could have had another earlier in the game as the ball died right at the base of the wall in dead-center…Carlos Delgado also hot a bomb that died on the wall, as well…
…again, Billy Wagner looked totally dominant and cool on the mound…he’s totally in control…
…Micah Owings had a pinch-hit single in the ninth…he’s amazing…i mean, they should just start him in the outfield every now and then, on days when he isn’t pitching…i mean, if the guy can let, let him hit…
…Johan Santana and Dan Haren put on a nice show through the first six innings…it must be weird for these American Leaguers to come to the National League and be forced to leave earlier than expected, because they get pinch hit for, which is something they never had to experience before…haren did not look happy, and even looked confused…
The Mets will face the Dodgers tomorrow in Los Angeles.
The Game:
The Mets (15-13) look to take the rubber-game of their three-games series versus the Diamondbacks (21-9) today at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ, game at 4:10 pm EST.
The Lineup:
- SS Jose Reyes
- RF Ryan Church
- 3B David Wright
- CF Carlos Beltran
- LF Moises Alou
- 1B Carlos Delgado
- C Brian Schneider
- 2B Luis Castillo
- P Johan Santana
The Pitchers:
LHP Johan Santana (3-2, 3.12 ERA) takes the hill for the Mets. Santana earned a no-decision in his last start on April 29 versus the Pirates, surrendering two runs on two hits and three walks while striking out seven in 5.2 IP. Santana’s K/BB ratio of 4.88 ranks him fourth in the National League (Minimum 20.0 IP). Opponents are hitting .196 (29-for-148) against the left-hander this season. In two career starts versus the D-Backs, Santana is 2-0 with a 0.56 ERA.
RHP Dan Haren (4-1, 3.13 ERA) starts for the Diamondbacks. In his last start on April 28 versus the Astros, Haren allowed three runs on five hits while walking one and striking out five for his fourth win of the season. Haren is 0-0 with a 2.79 ERA in two career starts versus the Mets.
The Notes:
Moises Alou is 8-for-14 (.571) with 2 HR, 2 2B and 6 RBI in his career versus Haren.
Carlos Delgado is batting .305 with 5 HR at 20 RBI in 59 career at-bats at Chase Field.
The Mets are 3-1 in rubber-games of series this season.
Justin Upton is 11-for-30 (.367) versus left-handed pitching this season.
Eric Byrnes is batting .231 (3-for-13) in his career versus Santana.
For more insight on the Diamondbacks, check out Blogger Beat.
How To Catch It:
Today’s game can be seen locally on CW11, seen nationally on TBS and heard locally on WFAN.
The Bleachers:
For a live chat, head over to The Hot Foot Bleachers.
…enjoy, and as always, Let’s Go Mets…
Tagged Mike Nichols |According to Adam Rubin, at his blog for the Daily News, Brian Schneider will be in today’s starting lineup.
Rubin also explains why Alou has returned to being hitless on the year, despite getting a ‘hit’ in his first game back.
New Orleans (AAA): 6-1 loss to Portland
RHP Claudio Vargas was hit hard in his first start in AAA for the Mets, surrendering six runs on nine hits and a walk in just four innings. RHP’s Ivan Maldonado and Jose Santiago each tossed two scoreless innings, with Maldonado not putting a man on base and striking out four.
The Zephyrs were cold at the plate, unable to do much against former Met LHP Shawn Estes in his seven innings of work. Side note: he did not hit a batter in this start, either. SS Anderson Hernandez was 1-for-3 with the lone Zephyr run. 1B Michel Abreu was 1-for-4, as were OF Val Pascucci and 3B Fernando Tatis.
Binghamton (AA): 19-5 loss to Connecticut
RHP Eric Brown was thrashed for nine runs on eleven hits and two walks in 4.1 innings pitched. RHP German Marte was even more ineffective, allowing six runs on six hits and a walk in just 1/3 of an inning. RHP Joe Hietpas followed that by surrendering four runs on two hits and two walks in 1.2 innings.
3B Danny Murphy was 2-for-4 with his second homerun in as many games, bringing him to three on the year. 1B Mike Carp was 1-for-3 with a double, a run, an RBI and a hit by pitch. Recently demoted from AAA, OF Caleb Stewart went deep in a 2-for-3 night. Nick Evans, in LF, went 0-for-4, and OF Fernando Martinez had the day off.
St. Lucie (A+): 6-0 loss to Daytona
RHP Nick Carr breezed through five shutout innings before running into trouble in the sixth. He allowed two runners to reach base before getting pulled, and LHP Edgar Alfonzo eventually allowed those runners to score. All told on the day, Carr went 5.1 innings, allowing two runs on three hits and three walks while striking out seven.
The A-ball Mets were held to just one hit on the night, a single by OF Jamar Hill, who also drew one of two walks against Lakeland starter Matt O’Brien, who went the distance. Rehabbing C Ramon Castro caught seven innings before being removed, as has been the trend in his stint in St. Lucie.
Savannah (A-): 8-4 win over Asheville
Tagged Minors |RHP Elvin Ramirez, a 19-year old Dominican product, allowed just a run in five innings, letting up six hits and two walks while striking out three.
C Francisco Pena was 2-for-4 with an RBI, while 2B Greg Veloz went 1-for-5 with a double and a run scored. Two 23-year olds from San Diego did much of the heavy lifting, with DH Jordan Abruzzo going 2-for-5 with a homer and four RBI, and OF Casey Craig finishing 3-for-5 and putting up a double, an RBI and three runs scored.
In the New York Post, Steve Serby talks with Billy Wagner, who says there is a 99 percent chance he does not pitch after next season.
To watch Serby’s Q&A with Wagner, click here.
Serby also talks with Wagner about his kids; whether Mets fans should expect a Championship; curtain calls; Hank Steinbrenner vs. Jeff Wilpon; stealing candy; and whether Shea’s fans compare to Philadelphia’s, which he says:
“I would never say that New York fans are anything near a Phillies fan. I think the difference with the Met fan is the expectation that we have. We have an All-Star team that when you’re [14-12] doesn’t look very good. They expect better. But they’re very passionate. They want you to win. They can boo you today, and you can walk out there tonight and they’ll cheer you. In other places, you can do well and they still boo you. You get a lot of the boos from the people that come to 10-15 games a year, and they’re spending their hard-earned money to watch a game, and when things don’t go their way, they’re upset, they’re frustrated.”
Brian Schneider told reporters that he will likely return to the team’s starting lineup on Monday in Los Angeles against the Dodgers.
Schneider spent six days in the hospital last week with a staph infection in his left thumb.
Though he is still experiencing pain in this finger, he caught a bullpen session on Friday and has been available the last few days as a back-up catcher.
