Game 137: Win
Well that was a nice change of pace … John Smoltz NOT dominating the Mets, and a journeyman lefty shutting down the Braves. The times they sure are a’ changin’ …
Dart throwing Dave Williams threw only 72 pitches in a solid six-inning effort, allowing only one run on five hits and no walks. If he keeps this up, the Mets might have to consider leaving Tom Glavine off the postseason roster and giving Game 2 to Mr. Williams.
Williams didn’t need much support, and received all he needed from the former Toronto tandem of Carlos Delgado and Shawn Green, who combined for four hits — two of them home runs — and accounted for three of the Mets runs. Jose Valentin also contributed an RBI, driving in Green with a blast to right-center that deposited him on second base with a double. It was the first time in five years I’ve seen a ball go over grinning Andruw Jones’ head. Paul LoDuca scored the other run on Delgado’s tater.
Notes
Guillermo Mota keeps on rolling, just like a loco-Motave (or as the Shea DJ plays, “Mota-rin!”). He came into a 3-1 game and pitched a nearly perfect eighth inning, striking out one. It’s getting more clear every day that his performance is no fluke; rather, he seems to have recaptured the magic that made him one of the most dominating setup men in all of baseball just a few years ago.
Billy Wagner made it look easy, finishing off the Braves on 12 pitches, eight of them strikes.
