The Mets defeated the Brewers, 1–0, inn Miller Park this afternoon.
For a full recap and boxscore, click here.
The Least You Should Know:
Mike Pelfrey was brilliant this afternoon despite committing his fifth balk of the season, able to get his secondary pitches over for strikes, pitching efficiently over 7 2/3 innings.
Yovani Gallardo was almost as good for the Brewers, striking out 12 through 7 innings.
The Mets did not have much offense once again today but when they got their chance after a Luis Castillo leadoff double in the sixth inning, Ryan Church capitalized with an RBI single.
Despite two rockets hit by Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder, Francisco Rodriguez rebounded to save his 21st game of the year.
Other Observations and Notes:
With the way the offense is built right now, the way Pelfrey was today is exactly how the starting pitching must perform until when and if the regulars start returning.
The one issue I have with Jerry Manuel removing Pelfrey when he did is that he put Sean Green in with runners at first and second in the eighth, and he had allowed seven of 15 inherited runners to score this season – fortunately the move worked out for the Mets, but by the same token, Pelfrey had pitched well enough, in my opinion, to earn at least another batter in the eighth inning.
That said, Green has been solid since the middle of May, so from that standpoint I can see why the decision was made – given everything that has gone on with the Mets and them in the midst of a five-game losing streak, that was the biggest out that Green has gotten this year.
No pain, no gain – Pelfrey considered having tightness in his lat muscle during the game a good sign.
David Wright’s strikeouts are a major concern right now – he now has 79 strikeouts on the year.
I really appreciated Keith Hernandez announcing the pitch selection in the ninth inning.
The Mets will play Pirates tomorrow at 12:30 pm at PNC Park for a make-up game, with Tim Redding taking on Paul Maholm.
{ 38 comments }
2.5 games out of 1st as of right now.
1 at Pit, 3 at Phi, 3 vs LA, 3 vs Cin
Just go 5-5 and get to the break.
Hang in there guys – the troops are on the way.
Yeah, but there will be another two weeks or more AFTER the allstar break until we get offensive reinforcements back.
“He put Sean Green in with runners at first and second, and had allowed 7 of 15 inherited runners to score this season.”
I hate when people reach out for stats like this. I bet you could also find 2 or 3 positive stats for green in this situation.
The situation called for putting in your best RH reliever not named K-Rod and that’s what Jerry did. open and shut case.
You got that right. This is the blueprint for victory right now. Strong starting pitching. Minimize the giveaway runs and hope you eek out enough offense to win 3-2, 2-1 type games.
Unfortunately we don’t have a staff of aces…so it’s gonna be tough.
Sounds like San Diego a few years ago. Isn’t that how they won most of their games.
Do not discount one of the biggest stats of the day …. Tatis hit into zero double plays!!!!!
Keep it up Tatis, good work. (Some times the best work is done on the bench!)
Here, here! Lets keep Tatis where he belongs…on the bench!
I thought Pelf was going to come unglued after the balk, but he recovered nicely. Maybe he’s getting over the mental hump that has been a problem during his young career. Very well done, and hat’s off to Gallardo. Tough loss. DW is up and down right now. As long as he’s back up against Philly.
These are the types of games we need to win to stay in the race until the boys get back in town.
For the record, I don’t think we should trade top prospects for another bat right now. We just need to play well, period. Pitching and defense: It’s what’s for dinner.
Yeah, if we can shut out the opponent 50% of the time we’ll be .500 this month. Good plan.
Hey Razor! We don’t have to shut everyone out, although that would be an effective strategy.
I’m just saying, Pelf stepped up and worked through some trouble, we committed no errors, and we beat a pitcher who was dominant today. If this rag-tag group can get their minds right, we will stay in contention.
I’m reminded manager Joe Riggins in Bull Durham. We can’t afford to lolly-gag.
I hear ya, and I’m sorry for lashing out at you, but in general I am flabbergasted by the amount of people who are, for a night at least, satisfied with this win. We scored one run. We need another bat.
don’t get me wrong, I am happy we won — just that my desire to get the bat is not satiated, I meant
I’m satisfied with every win. Pelf shut down a very good lineup. We can win games if our rotation and bullpen perform to their capabilities, depleted as they are.
Now, if we get a bat, I won’t be mad. I just don’t think this is a good market for the Mets to be doing business in.
I would have loved to get DeRosa though.
The bright side: Philly is losing nearly as much as us and they barely have any excuse. Ibanez is their only major injury.
What do you want to bet that Jerry puts out a completely different lineup tommorow! lol LGM!
100% chance.
We’re up against a lefty pitcher, I believe. Don’t you want the Sheff special out there?
You have to let him manage.
Needless to say, big win. Being at work, I had my yahoo gameday open and was checking every minute or two until the 9th. Thankfully, by the time I got up the nerve to check it was over. Sounds like Pelf was the stopper for us– I honestly thought Gallardo would pitch a CG, 3 hit shutout against us.
Now, let’s take one from the Buccos and roll into Philly with a little streak going. With the way the Phils are playing at home, maybe we could sneak in and take 2 out of 3? (I’m guessing we’ve got Livan, Nieve and Johan going– maybe it’s possible?)
Yeah, it’s not like this lineup lit it up or anything.
Great to get a win, but pretty much confirms that you need a completely dominant pitching performance to eke out a W, which isn’t a good spot to be in.
But then again we’re not going to face someone of the caliber of Galardo every night. He was lights out, and we were lucky to get one run.
funny but so true. Now with that said, its not like we hit today……
Pelfrey The Stopper
Yeah, Fernando Tatis not playing is the reason they won. Not Pelfrey’s pitching. Just like they would’ve won more down the stretch last season if the great Argenis Reyes had started more at second down the stretch. Nevermind all the games blown in the bullpen.
2008: It’s all Luis Castillo’s fault according to Metsblog commenters
2009: It’s all Fernando Tatis’ fault according to Metsblog commenters
I’m pretty sure we all blame ‘08 on the bullpen… though Castillo certainly wasn’t helping.
And nobody is blaming Tatis for ‘09 — they’re just saying he shouldn’t be starting unless he hits his way into the lineup. Which is true.
Well I believe what Kd bart is trying to say is that the people of Metsblog like to pick a guy and make him the scapegoat, which is true you guys rip people when they dont deserve it
Tatis does not deserve to be ripped? No one is making him the scapegoat. Should we devote this site to only positive comments and not make any critical remarks about underachievers?
I’ve said this before, but I’ll say it again. Fernando Tatis is a valuable member of this club. But his value is as a RH bat off the bench, a versatile spot starter, and a steady veteran presence in the clubhouse, NOT as a regular. For me, I’m more frustrated with Jerry Manuel’s handling of the lineup (and the bullpen, for that matter) than with any player’s performance (Tatis included). I don’t hate Jerry either, though. I think he’d be an excellent bench coach with this team, but he is not a good in-game manager, and he’s lousy at lineup management.
But I also understand your frustration with people who jump on individual players (Tatis, Castillo, Heilman, etc) and find a way to blame them for everything that anyone does wrong. It’s best to just ignore that nonsense.
Let’s not forget my favorite Met…Church. Hustle and the winning ribby. He’s been showing off his bat, defense and simply amazin arm this week.
ive liked church alot since he sacraficed his body/head trying to break up that double play in atlanta…that wasnt just a normal take out slide…he was literally trying to make sure that throw was never made….so i find myself defending church because if the mets had some more tougher players like him maybe they wouldnt of collapsed the last two seasons
Big Pelf!
All I can say is, Good for you, young man!”
Got a nice little rhythm going there….
A team only has a few shutouts per season. We really need offense.
Dunn isn’t a rental. he is the pop you need to replace Delgado at 1B in 2010.
I really want to go to the playoffs this season. I can give up a couple prospects for Dunn. What did we gain by hanging on to Milledge? Most think we gave him away. He was worth far more at AAA than when he hit the big club.
The ghost of Nolan Ryans hangs over the personnel decisions of this club. Yes we gave him away and he turned out to be great. But this is the 21st century and we live in NY. If we trade away a good player and he ends up being good, we can sign him as a free agent, or trade for him a year or two from arbitration.
Get help now. I don’t want to lose another season
finally some people are starting to realize u dont give up in june/july when stuff goes bad….
I believe we should get the bat now too. It may be slightly higher priced but you are getting him for the extra month — a month in which it is sorely needed.
Certainly are a lot of posts about how winning today proves we don’t need more offense, which I find strange considering the score.
And again, we are not talking about TOP prospects like Fmart or Holt or Havens for a rental player. We are talking about B-prospects who have been overhyped by SNY and the like for a player that fits this team perfectly now, and fits later if everyone comes back. Adam Dunn for Parnell, Niese, Murphy — take two of the three and have a nice day.
You can’t tell me that these three guys are top prospects based on what you have seen. Potential to be decent players? I suppose. But to sit on these guys and watch the season disappear doesn’t make sense to me. The injuries are going to cost us games, and eventually the season, or it will cost us the extra talent teams are supposedly charging us to replace SOME missing offense now.
Dear Mr Agee;
While Ryan for Fergosi ranks up there with the Babe Ruth trade, you must remember that MRS. Ryan was behind the MR. Ryan giveaway. The move HAD to be made for somebody!
Anyways, that’s all history and I loved your catches in 1969!
This is completely off topic but aggravates me on weekends and I need to know an answer –
When games are broadcasted on Channel 11 on weekends why don’t the MEts do a pregame show on SNY??? but do a post game show??? I hate having to watch the final 15 minutes of a show on ch.11 that I would never watch while waiting for the game to start.
When the Mets were playing the Yankees on FOX 5 The Yankees offered a pregame show on YES but the Mets didnt on SNY.
ANY IDEAS???????
i dont know why..but SNY is doing postgame for every game….yankees and YES dont do that
What a great game today. Seeing K-Rod live for the first time was a thrill ride for our family. Our hearts were pounding the entire half-inning, and we were thrilled that the Brewers fans were finally quieted for once this series.
After witnessing two terribly discouraging losses, we were treated to a baseball rarity these days, an old-fashioned pitching duel. Pelfry looked great and worked out of a number of jams.
There were no major hiccups today, except for Wright’s throwing error. I was glad that he didn’t have to throw the ball in the 8th inning with the tying and go-ahead runs on base for the Brewers, but was able to end the inning by stepping on third. I watched a lot of his warmup throws between innings, and those are almost as much of an adventure as they are during the game.
We are now 5-2 in games we’ve attended at Miller Park during the past 3 seasons, though we were hoping to be 7-0.
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