Mets Game 27: Win Over Phillies
Mets 7 Phillies 5
The Mets jumped out to a 7-1 lead in the third inning, and appeared on the way to a laugher. However, the offense took the rest of the day off, and the Phillies chipped out five runs the rest of the way to keep it close — and necessitate a fourth straight appearance by Frankie Rodriguez.
Mike Pelfrey pitched very well, allowing three runs on eight hits and 1 walk in seven full innings. Pedro Feliciano, however, did not pitch so well, allowing a two-run homer to Jayson Werth to make things interesting.
Offensively, the Mets exploded in the first three frames, highlighted by first-inning homeruns by Carlos Beltran and David Wright and a second-inning blast by Jose Reyes. Ramon Castro drove in the Mets’ final two runs with a booming, 415-foot double to the centerfield wall in the third inning. Gotta love that “long” swing.
The Mets won their fourth straight, fifth in their last six, and finally are above .500.
Notes
Frankie Rodriguez now has 5 saves in May — he had four in the entire month of April.
Wright went 3-for-3 and in his fourth at-bat, Clay Condrey threw behind his head. It was not a mistake, despite what might have been said by the SNY crew. The Mets did not retaliate, because gentlemen don’t do that.
Gary Sheffield went 0-for-3 with a walk in his first start since May 2 and 7th start of the season. I don’t expect him to be very productive as a starter unless he’s put in there for at least 4-5 games in a row. But that’s not likely to happen unless someone gets injured.
Next Mets Game
The Mets open a three-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night at 7:10 PM. Jonathan Niese makes his first MLB start of 2009 against Jeff Karstens, who is 1-1 with a 1.50 WHIP and a weak chin.
As for the obstruction, it is a judgment call and I don’t know why the SNY announcers disagreed with it. From what I saw, Jose Reyes was in the baseline without the ball, and therefore impeding the runner. Yes Victorino purposely threw a shoulder at him, but it’s his baseline to run in. The umpire might have been able to eject Victorino from the game for unsportsmanlike conduct, but the obstruction existed.
I’m not sure about the conspiracy theory of Manuel staging an ejection, but I wouldn’t put it past him.