Game 14: Win – Mets Sweep Again!
Break up the Mets !
The Marlins held Jose Reyes, Carlos Delgado, and Orlando Hernadez to just one hit each. Unfortunately for the fish, everyone else in the lineup had more than one knock.
Reyes’ only hit was a triple, and he walked twice and scored two runs. Delgado’s one hit was a double smashed down the first base line that drove in a run.
And then there was Carlos Beltran.
Beltran went 4-6 with 2 runs, 2 RBI, 2 doubles, and a homerun. Shawn Green also pounded two doubles — to the opposite field — and both Jose Valentin and Ramon Castro hit homeruns. Moises Alou did not get an extra-base hit, but did go 2-4 for the second straight game, scoring once and driving in one. David Wright had the most uninteresting day, but he did manage to extend his hitting streak to 26 games (or 14, depending on how you’re counting). Even El Duque lashed a groundball single through the right side.
Ah yes, El Duque. Working without his great stuff, he struck out 10 and allowed only four hits in seven strong innings of work. Hernandez did not have his best curveball, but it didn’t matter. When you have a substantial lead in the second inning, all you need to do is throw strikes.
The first two innings, the Marlins were sitting on his curveball, which from the side was flat. He threw all pitches almost exclusively from the side in innings one through three, perhaps because of the righty-heavy lineup, with the bulk being breaking pitches. However, once he had a six-run lead, he threw many more fastballs, occasionally mixing in overhand fastballs, change-ups, and curves. When the Fish sat on the curve, he gave them the fastball. Once they were accustomed to the sidearm slot, he came overhand. His array of angles and changes in speeds kept the Marlins bats in check — they appeared to give up mentally after the fourth inning. There is one pitch that is becoming predictable from Hernandez — the 3-2 eephus pitch. He’s thrown that slow curve nearly every time he’s had a full count this year.
All in all a fine game by the New York Mets, who have moved into first place thanks to a loss by the Braves to the Cubs. Oh, and look at that — the Braves come to Shea for a weekend series. The timing could not be more perfect.
Random Notes
In addition to blasting two opposite-field doubles — that were nearly homers — Shawn Green lost his cap running for a fly ball for the first time this year.
Amby Burgos was throwing some nasty moving fastballs, firing them into the upper 90s. He struck out two in his one nearly perfect inning, the only stain being a hit batter.
Next Game
The Mets put Mike Pelfrey on the mound to face Tim Hudson, who is on fire so far this year, sporting a 2-0 record and 0.86 ERA. Pelfrey is making only his second start of the season. Game time is 7:10 PM.
