Note: Brian Stokes vs. Albert Pujols
Last night, Brian Stokes entered the game specifically to face Albert Pujols in the eighth inning, with a man on first and the Mets leading 5-4.
…stokes was breaking me out, flirting with two weak breaking ball inside… turns out, he was setting up his hard slider on the outside of the plate, which pujols hit on the ground for an inning-ending double play…
…like i said last night, the best part of the play was Daniel Murphy’s aggressive fist pump, after making the catch for the final out… i like it…
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, 
courtesy of ESPN.com, last night was only the second time in the last three seasons in which Pujols hit in to a double play with a runner on first and less than two outs.
…i get lots and lots of e-mails, and hear from fans i talk with, all of whom wonder why stokes does not pitch more… i always assume it’s because Jerry Manuel is keeping him on hold to use in long relief… yesterday, however, manuel said before the game he would turn to stokes in the eighth inning, while giving rest to Pedro Feliciano, Bobby Parnell and Sean Green… now, with yesterday’s addition of Elmer Dessens and Pat Misch, i hope stokes can be freed up to pitch more in situations like last night, because he’s throwing too well right now to sit on the sidelines…
Stokes is 1–2 with a 3.38 ERA in 26 innings pitched, during which opponents are batting .279 against him.
He has not allowed a run in 22 of his 25 appearances this season.
By the way, click here to watch SNY.TV’s Post Game Extra from last night’s win against the Cardinals, featuring clips from the game; quotes from Jerry Manuel, Brian Stokes and Tim Redding; and analysis from Ron, Keith and Gary.
