Game 25: Win

Mets 2 Nationals 1

Looking at the final score, who would have believed that Victor Zambrano was the starting pitcher, and went six innings in the victory?

As it turned out, he left the game with the score tied 1-1, and thus wasn’t credited with the win. However, it was a personal win for Dr. Jekyll.

The Mets’ Crisco squad was perfect again, as Pedro Feliciano, Duaner Sanchez, and Billy the Kid mowed down the last three innings. Mr. Willie made an interesting move, bringing in Wagner with the score still tied 1-1, after Sanchez pitched another lights-out inning and only threw ten pitches (eight for strikes). Personally, I would have left Sanchez in for the ninth, especially with 8-9-1 coming up for the Mets in the bottom of the inning. However, Willie went with Wagner, and we won … so I can’t be too critical.

An even more interesting managerial move was Frank Robinson’s leaving middle reliever Gary Majewski in the game after he gave up a walk to Julio Franco and an 0-2 single to Jose Reyes to start the ninth. Closer Chad Cordero was warming up and ready in the bullpen, and hadn’t pitched in a game since April 28th. Majewski proceeded to induce a perfect double-play grounder back through the box, but instead of taking his time, Majewski rushed the throw to second base, where both the shortstop and second baseman were covering, and the ball sailed over both their heads and into centerfield, allowing pinch runner Endy Chavez to score easily. Had Majewski thrown a strike to second base to start the DP, I wonder if third-base coach Manny Acta would have sent the speedy Chavez home while the Nats relayed the throw to first. Running full speed at the crack of the bat, Chavez just might have been able to beat the throw home.

As it was, it didn’t matter. Once again, the Mets did what they are supposed to do, which is beat up on the weaker teams. Hopefully they can do it by a larger margin in Game 26.