Mets Game 95: Win Over Rockies

Mets 7 Rockies 0

Mike Pelfrey was spectacular. AGAIN.

Who IS this guy? It’s not the feeble doe we saw on the mound in 2006, 2007, and the first two months of 2008. This new guy has command, confidence, and maybe even a mean streak. Against every batter, I’m in awe and grateful surprise watching “Big Pelf” dominate. What a thrill to watch a kid with his stuff throw with such assurance, challenging hitters to swat at his fastball. It’s not unlike the days of Nolan Ryan, only different. Where Ryan used to simply throw 100-MPH heaters over the middle of the plate, chest high, Pelfrey is slamming the sinker and the rising four-seamer. I never thought I’d say in 2008 that it would be fun to watch Mike Pelfrey … but it is — pure fun.

Pelfrey shut out the Rockies through 8 innings, allowing only 6 hits, walking none, and striking out 5. He threw 119 pitches, but looked strong enough to finish the game. It would’ve been nice to see Big Pelf finish up and earn the shutout — this from someone who regularly agonized through 135- and 150-pitch outings by Al Leiter. Why better-conditioned athletes can’t go as far, we’ll never know. Blame the atrocities set forth by the clowns at ASMI.

Anyway, I digress …

Beyond the miraculous Mike Pelfrey story there was the Mets’ offense, which scored seven runs, led by Carlos Beltran’s 3-for-4, 3 RBI night. Surprise two-hole-hitter Nick Evans collected two hits, an RBI, and scored a run, and Carlos Delgado’s only hit of the evening was a majestic, Dave Kingman-like, soaring blast toward the scoreboard and over the right field wall that plated himself and Damion Easley.

There were other hits, only 4 runners left on base, and three double plays, but the bottom line was this: the Mets controlled the game from the outset, offensively and defensively. There was never a question as to who would win this contest.

Notes

Pelfrey led the Mets to their ninth straight win. They haven’t won 10 in a row since 2001 1991 (I think?).

Big Pelf induced 15 ground balls, and of the 4 fly balls, at least two of them were weak popups to the infield. In addition to flat-out dominating the Colorado hitters, Pelfrey also stroked a Major League-looking line drive single into left field. I think I already asked, but, who IS this guy???

Damion Easley turned three DPs, including one spectacular pivot in which he dug a David Wright short-hop throw out of the dirt to retire Brad Hawpe and spun to nail Garrett Atkins by a half-step at first.

Speaking of Hawpe, he had 5 of the Rockies’ 11 hits in the three-game series.

I HATE the All-Star game. I used to love it, back when the NL and AL hated each other and played a hard-nosed, all-out game. Now that it’s a lovefest of “opponents” smiling at each other, embracing, and exchanging jokes and email addresses, it’s little more than a sham — despite MLB’s greatest attempts to make people think it matters. For those who weren’t around, the last time there was a real competition between the two leagues was probably 1979 or 1980. But this year I hate the contest even more because a.) David Wright was a last-minute inclusion and therefore won’t get three days off and b.) the break threatens to kill the momentum of the Mets’ 9-game win streak (as astutely pointed out by my wife).

Next Game

The next Mets game won’t be until after the All-Star break, which means no baseball until Thursday night, when the Mets play in Cincinnati. I have no idea who the starting pitchers will be, but I’m guessing it could be Johan Santana vs. Aaron Harang Johnny Cueto(?).