Post Game: Mets 6 Cardinals 4
The Mets (35–33) defeated the Cardinals (39–32) by the score of 6 to 4 tonight.
For a boxscore, play by play, and a full recap, go here.
I am excited, and proud of how the Mets played tonight.
I was afraid the Mets might collectively mope around, shrug their shoulders and drop their heads, all in light of today’s news that Carlos Beltran would be joining Jose Reyes, Carlos Delgado, John Maine, Oliver Perez and J.J. Putz on the disabled list.
Instead, the Mets kept their spirits up, and out-hustled, out-hit and out-pitched the first-place Cardinals, and they did it as a team.
In the first inning, the Mets sent six men to the plate and scored two runs using nothing but singles and sac flys.
From that point forward, despite a golf-shot home run from Daniel Murphy, the Mets used a similar, grinding-style of offense – and any time the Cardinals tried to rally back, the Mets followed with a run in the bottom of that inning.
Hat’s off to Tim Redding, who got his first win of the season tonight, and who looked very sharp using all of his pitches, which he commanded quite well.
By the way, the Cardinals should check the pressure on Dennys Reyes, the man’s face looks like it’s going to explode.
In a key moment in the game, during the eighth inning, Brian Stokes set up Albert Pujols to swing at an outside slider, which he hit on the ground for an inning-ending double play, as he represented the tying run.
Best part: Murphy’s animated first pump on the back-end of the play.
Later, also a key moment, Alex Cora wisely noticed the wheel play being used against him by Tony LaRussa, with runners on first and second and no outs, and chose not to bunt, according to Jerry Manuel, instead, swinging and ripping an RBI single to center.
Hat’s off for Luis Castillo leading off the inning with an infield single, which he hustled to beat out.
Castillo made a slick play in the field as well, diving to snag a ground ball up the middle, then throwing to first from his knees.
Hustle. That’s the word that is stuck in my mind. Nice work, guys.
The Mets continue their four-game series with the Cardinals tomorrow night, with Livan Hernandez squaring off against Joel Pineiro.
