Mets Game 17: Win Over Nationals
Mets 8 Nationals 2
The red-hot Mets blew out the Nationals to win their second consecutive game.
New York’s struggles with runners in scoring position are a distant memory, as the offense came through with four base hits out of eleven tries (.363) with RISP in this contest. Ryan Church led the way with two hits and three RBI, and Carlos Beltran extended his commanding lead over all other NL hitters by going 3-for-5. The Mets hitters exploded for five runs in the first three innings off starter and loser Daniel Cabrera.
Mike Pelfrey stepped up and came through with a strong performance, pitching into the 6th inning for the first time this season. He needed a little help finishing the inning (Sean Green came on for the final out of the sixth), but nonetheless Big Pelf allowed just two runs on six hits and three walks in 5 2/3, lowering his ERA to 6.32.
Bobby Parnell pitched a scoreless seventh, and Brian Stokes finished up the game with two scoreless frames of his own.
Game Notes
Danny Murphy whirls and throws to 1B after a sliding catch in the first inning
Just prior to exiting the game, Pelfrey got 14 consecutive outs on ground balls. With that kind of effectiveness with his sinker, he should eventually learn to be more efficient (95 pitches in this game). For example, Anderson Hernandez saw eight pitches leading off the game before singling, and later, AHern worked a walk off Big Pelf. That is exactly the kind of hitter Pelfrey should be retiring instantly (which he did, in the fifth, getting a groundout on his second pitch to Hernandez).
Beltran is now hitting .415. He is simply unconscious.
Carlos Delgado is 3 for his last 26 (.115), and his average has dropped to .250. I wonder if he needs to have a good game tomorrow to keep his spot on the roster?
Next Mets Game
The Mets go for a sweep of the Nationals on Sunday afternoon at 1:10 PM. Oliver Perez (or is it Hyde?) goes against rookie phenom Jordan Zimmerman (no relation to Ryan, or Roy, for that matter).
Murph really surprised almost the whole park, and almost everyone watching the game, with that DP. I’m sure that AHern was surprised.
When the Marlins equal 29 blown saves and are only 3 games back, I’ll give that team props. Living in Florida and getting the local TV feed, their announcers don’t stray more than a paragraph without reminding their 11 fans about how they’ve ended New York’s last two seasons. Thank God for the MLB package.
That said, let’s hope that the Mets build on these victories. And may all of the starters not named Johan begin to perform to their potential. RISP is a good thing. Runs scored is better.
Second thought: I think it’s time Jerry started following through on one of his mantras and start resting his core players. After the nightmare in St Louis, the Mets recieved no days off traveling back to NY for the Washington series, and don’t get a day off until Thursday. The Mets have already won the series against the Nats, and appear to have a good chance of sweeping even if they have a few replacements in the lineup. Add to the mix that it’s been uncharacteristically hot the last couple days, and it all creates the perfect situation for Jerry to give a player or two from the core group an off-day. I know Beltran’s blistering hot right now, but I think Jeremy Reed should see some time in CF. Wright’s been slumping, as has Delgado, so perhaps Tatis should spell one or the other. The question is, why wait until the team gets even deeper in a hole or further behind in the standings to rest your most valuable players? Sunday is the perfect time to give some guys some R&R, and for Jerry to actually practice what he preaches.
Update: Jerry didn’t rest anyone on Sunday, the Mets lay an egg against the Nats, and now begin a tough series against the Marlins with a broken-down team. What a dope.
Pedal to the metal, baby — and it’s not even May!