postGame: Mets 12 Reds 6
The Mets (18–15) defeated the Reds (14–22) by the score of 12 to 6 in Shea Stadium this afternoon.
For a full recap, go to SNY’s Boxscore.
It’s impressive, because even a so-so day, in which he threw a ton of pitches, and allowed 10 hits, Johan Santana let up just three runs in six innings. So many times it could have so much worse, but he always seems to do what is necessary to get out of the inning. Also, the team’s defense came through for him often. What’s more, they got a favorable call from the ump on a grounder in the fifth, on which the runner at first was called out, when he was really safe. Thanks, ump.
I’m not sure why Willie Randolph was initially bunting with Johan Santana in the second inning, with runners at first and third and one out. Nevertheless, the pitcher threw a wild pitch, and Moises Alou scored from third anyways.
Nice hustle by David Wright in the fifth, taking second on a deep pop-up by Carlos Beltran. Wright was then able to score on a bloop single from Ryan Church.
In the third, with the infield in, Moises Alou dunked a single over the head of Brandon Phillips, to score two runs. Normally, phillips catches that ball, but, oh well.
In the top of the fourth, Edwin Encarnacion hit a home run off of santana…alou jumped to try and rob it, but missed. Honestly, I’d rather alou just keep his feet on the ground at all time – it’s just safer that way, don’t you think.
Santana struggled in the sixth, losing the bottom of the order…with 100 pitches in his pocket, two outs and runners on base, willie stuck with him, and returned the favor by striking out the batter to end the inning.
Even on a day when the Mets score 12 runs and win by six, they still manage to use three relief pitchers – on a day when they’ll have to play another nine innings. Unreal.
Give a game ball to Carlos Beltran, who had five RBI on the day, and who put the game out of reach in the sixth with a three-run, bases-clearing triple. The Mets got a nice ovation, having tacked on four insurance runs in the sixth – I look forward to endless columns in the newspapers tomorrow about the happy fans.
By the way, the Mets have won their last two games by a combined score of 24 to 7.
The Mets will play the Reds again today at 7:30 pm, with Mike Pelfrey on the mound against Bronson Arroyo.
