Post Game: Mets 5 Dodgers 4
The Mets beat the Dodgers, 5-4, tonight at Citi Field.
For a complete recap, box score and stats, click here.
The Least You Should Know:
- The story tonight was the return of Oliver Perez. An admittedly “really nervous” Perez was decent tonight, and did all I could realistically ask for his first time out. Although he had seven walks and was quite wild, his slider had a lot of break on it, and Perez was able to work his way out of a few jams, specifically after walking the bases loaded with two outs in the third inning. He went five, had two strikeouts, and allowed two to score on five hits.
- With the game tied at one in the third, Daniel Murphy, who scorched two doubles tonight, scored on a seeing-eye single by David Wright to left. Wright later scored on a Casey Blake error, and Jeremy Reed then drove Gary Sheffield in to make it a 4-1 ballgame. Sheffield’s failure to slide made it a much closer play than it needed to be. Get dirty Sheff, that may have been costly.
- Daniel Murphy made one of the most unbelievable plays I have ever seen. Mark Loretta nailed a line drive off the first base bag, which launched the ball high into the air. Murphy tracked it down, barehanded it, and slung it behind his back to Bobby Parnell to record the out at first. Luck of the Irish.
- In the eighth, Ryan Church made a sliding attempt at a liner off of Matt Kemp‘s bat, but missed it, earning Kemp a triple. He would eventually score to make it 5-3.
- K-Rod came in and immediately gave up a home run to Manny Ramirez. He then walked Casey Blake on four pitches, and gave up a base hit to Russell Martin. He finally forced a game ending double play to earn the save.
Other Observations and Notes:
- Phew. With everyone in the division that matters winning today, and having the lead all night, this was a must win.
- It was very nice to see someone, anyone return from the disabled list, even if it was Oliver Perez, who has been a source of frustration in the past.
- The game moved at a Trachselesque pace.
- Home plate umpire, Wally Bell’s strike zone was a bit askew. Ask Gary Sheffield and Nick Evans.
- I erased anything in my post that may have jinxed them during that last inning. Yes, I’m superstitious.
The Game Ball:
- Tentatively goes to Oliver Perez. It couldn’t have been easy to go out there tonight with the burden of an inflated contract, and fan expectations weighing down on him, but his serviceable outing has allowed me to sigh a shallow breath of relief, for now.
Livan Hernandez squares off against Randy Wolf in the rubber game tomorrow night at 7:10 p.m.
