Game 42: Win Over Nationals
Mets 10, Nationals 7
What a difference a day makes…
The Mets exploded for 10 runs on 15 hits, led by a strikeout-free David Wright, who finished with 4 RBI. Wright’s 3-run double in the first inning put the Mets ahead for good, but it was a bumpy ride.
In the bottom of the first inning, John Maine walked leadoff hitter Nyjer Morgan and was then pulled by manager Jerry Manuel. The official report on Maine’s “injury” was that he wasn’t injured at all. Apparently, Manuel didn’t like something about Maine’s velocity and mechanics. Maine wasn’t happy with the decision, to say the least. It makes you wonder if Dan Warthen or Jerry Manuel saw anything in Maine’s warmup. Or maybe it was just a stunt. Stay tuned.
With Maine out of the game, Raul Valdes came on and pitched brilliantly – 5 IP, 7 H, 1 BB, 3 ER, 6 K – by the time he exited the game, the Mets had an 8-1 lead. Manny Acosta quickly gave up two runs that were charged to Valdes, but the Mets were in control of the game… for the time being.
Meanwhile, the Mets offense was relentless – Jason Bay and Ike Davis each had three hits. Rod Barajas hit his 10th home run.
The Nats put up three in the eighth but Pedro Feliciano was able to get out of a jam by getting Adam Dunn to flyout with the bases loaded to end the inning.
Francisco Rodriguez did his customary “getting thrown off a merry-go-round at 50 mph” routine, looking like he was on the verge of losing his composure while allowing a hit and a run before getting the save.
Next Game
The Mets take on the Yankees on Friday night at Citi Field. Hisanori Takahashi (3-1, 3.12) takes the mound against Javier Vasquez (2-4, 8.01). First pitch at 7:10pm.
Check out this Super-8mm film footage of the first time the Diamondbacks visited Shea Stadium in 1998 – with audio of Bob Murphy and Gary Cohen. Great stuff:
About the game, what was up with that looney tune inning (5th was it?) Valdes drag bunts his way on, Ike Davis can't get thrown out on a sure fire play at third, and Zimmerman has a case of the tripsies? I thought the Nats were real deal? Aww alrite so it was just one inning, fine… It still looked awful funny
here!
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But I find the substance of what Warthen said pretty plausible. Maine downplays his pain because he is a go-getting bulldog who wants to pitch regardless of possible injury.
Manuel at least had a little more sense in describing Maine's desire to pitch as a positive.