Post Game: Mets 9, Braves 4
The Mets defeated the Braves by the score of 9-4 tonight at Citi Field.
For a full recap and box score, click here.
The Least You Should Know:
It looked like one of those nights again for the Mets as the Braves jumped out early to a 4-0 lead on Oliver Perez for three runs in the second inning thanks to a Matt Diaz three run home run followed by a third inning Adam LaRoche solo home run.
The tables then turned.
The Mets exploded for eight runs in the fourth inning, highlighted by two extra base hits by Gary Sheffield – a double to score Angel Pagan and Luis Castillo and another double that sent Castillo to third.
Castillo had two singles in the fourth, his second hit knocking Derek Lowe out of the game, who was responsible for eight runs on 11 hits in just 3 2/3 innings.
At one point the Mets put together five consecutive hits in the fourth inning, four of which were singles.
Sheffield had two hits to the right side tonight in his 3 for 5 effort.
Every starting player had at least one hit tonight, and five of the nine had multiple hits in the 17 hit attack, matching a season high by this club.
Perez lasted only five innings allowing all four runs to the Braves, but he only allowed one walk which was definitely an encouraging sign.
Pedro Feliciano made his 66th appearance in the eighth inning tonight.
Other Observations and Notes:
The ten hits in the fourth inning is a new Mets record for hits in an inning.
The last time the Mets scored eight runs in an inning was August 13, 2008 in Washington.
The last Met to have two extra base hits in one inning, before Sheffield in the fourth inning tonight, was Jeromy Burnitz in 2003, against the Braves at Shea Stadium.
I still don’t think the Mets made the right decision to take a pass on Lowe, even though he has had an up and down season for the Braves and the Mets have done a good job overall against him.
I think its funny that this lineup was able to put together an inning like what we saw tonight considering that this group has been generally anemic.
Jeff Francoeur may never be the player Atlanta expected him to be, but he has been a pleasure to watch since he came over to the Mets.
Anderson Hernandez has seven hits since rejoining the Mets ten days ago – he only had 12 hits total for the Mets in parts of 2005 through 2007.
I just wrote that the fact that Perez walked only one was “encouraging”, but I am sick of being encouraged by small signs that he can actually compete again at the Major League level – I want to be convinced and assured at this point.
Speaking of competing, Castillo has raised his average to .306 on the year.
The fourth inning reminded me of the ten-run eighth inning the Mets put together against the Braves on June 30, 2000…those were the days…
In Case You Missed It:
To watch SNY.TV’s Post Game Extra, featuring clips from the game; quotes from Jerry Manuel, and analysis from Keith Hernandez and Gary Cohen, use the video player in the sidebar of MetsBlog.com.
The Next Series:
The Mets continue their series against the Braves tomorrow night with Bobby Parnell facing Jair Jurrjens.
