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May 29, 2007 Mets 2007 Games Joe Janish

Mets Game 50: Win over Giants

Mets 5 Giants 4

New York Mets Carlos Delgado scores after hitting the game-winning homerun against the San Francisco GiantsOliver Perez pitched seven solid innings, and gave up three solo homers. Looking at it, it was a very good performance — he gave up only five hits total, walked none, and struck out 8 in throwing 98 pitches over the 7 frames. It’s safe to say that Ollie has regained the form that made him one of the most coveted young lefties in MLB in 2004.

The three Giant dingers were answered by Carlos X two production: a two-run homer by Carlos Delgado and a one-run double by Carlos Beltran. The score remained that way through 12 innings, when San Francisco broke through with a run against Mighty Joe Smith on a groundout to untie the game. However, Giants manager Bruce Bochy thought it appropriate to give the Mets a fair chance in the bottom of the inning, and sent Armando Benitez to the mound.

Predictably, Benitez had a meltdown. It began with a walk to Jose Reyes, who was balked to second base and then moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Endy Chavez. Benitez balked for the second time in the inning to score Reyes with the tying run. Five pitches later, Carlos Delgado mashed his second homerun of the game to win the contest for the Mets, 5-4.

Notes

Reyes and Delgado scored two runs each, and Beltran scored the other Met run.

Aaron Heilman pitched one and a third innings of perfect relief before allowing Smith to scavenge the victory. Heilman squeaked the Mets out of tough spot in the 10th, getting Rich Aurilia to line out with Barry Bonds standing on third base with the go-ahead run.

The Mets had only six hits on the night, and the suddenly hot Delgado had two of them (plus 3 RBI).

Ruben Gotay had a pinch-hit in the eleventh, his third pinch-hit of the year (he’s 3-for-8, .375 in that role).

Carlos Gomez started in rightfield and was hitless with two strikeouts, and Ben Johnson took over and went 0-for-2. Johnson was added to the roster when Shawn Green was put on the DL for the first time in his 15-year career.

Next Game

Tom Glavine (5-2, 3.39) faces Barry Zito (4-5, 4.70) in an epic battle of soft-tossers. Game time is 7:35 PM.

Joe Janish began MetsToday in 2005 to provide the unique perspective of a high-level player and coach -- he earned NCAA D-1 All-American honors as a catcher and coached several players who went on to play pro ball. As a result his posts often include mechanical evaluations, scout-like analysis, and opinions that go beyond the numbers. Follow Joe's baseball tips on Twitter at @onbaseball and at the On Baseball Google Plus page.
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  1. sincekindergarten May 30, 2007 at 4:39 am
    Look, Joe, I’m starting to think that it’s about as near a given as one can find–if Benitez is pitching against the Mets, he will lose the game. What’s that now–two of his three losses this year have come at the hands of the Mets?

    What had gone around for years, has now come around. And the Brewers bear the Braves, though Smoltz managed to get himself a tad banged-up. If he goes, they’re done.

  2. Zooomabooma May 30, 2007 at 5:04 am
    If Smoltz goes down I don’t think the Braves will be done at all. We’ve seen those [insert bad name here]’s manage to hang in there when they’ve had a bunch of serious injuries. Bobby Cox is a future Hall of Famer, he’s got some way of pulling his boys together in a crisis… but then again, hopefully they don’t have that magic anymore ‘CAUSE I HATE THE BRAVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Anyway, great game last night! GREAT game!!!!!!

  3. sincekindergarten May 30, 2007 at 7:02 am
    Their starting staff, right now, has two #1s . . . and three #5s. If Smoltzy goes down . . . one #1, and four #5s. Give Chuck James a year or two more, and he’s a #3.

    Also, Bobby Cox has Leo Mazzone by his side. Mazzone is working some magic in Baltimore, because anyone that can get Steve Traschel’s ERA below 4 (it’s 3.97 right now) is a miracle worker in my book.

  4. joe May 30, 2007 at 8:42 am
    I have to agree with sincekindergarten … without Leo Mazzone, the Braves can’t turn a re-tread into an ace (see: Mark Redman).

    While I wouldn’t completely count out the Braves at this point, if Smoltz goes down, I’m really liking our chances.

    Those Phillies are creeping up, though …