Mets Game 65: Win Over Pirates

Mets 7 Pirates 0

If you didn’t see the game, you might guess it was another laugher for the Mets. But actually, we were on the edges of our seats until the floodgates opened in the top of the 8th inning.

Mets Game Notes

It was an old-fashioned pitcher’s duel … which actually, is beginning to come into fashion again. Funny how things, if you wait long enough, come back into style.

Chris Capuano and Kevin Correia matched each other pitch for pitch, throwing up goose eggs until the seventh inning, when the Mets finally squeaked out a run on a sacrifice fly that almost wasn’t. Angel Pagan over-ran second base while Dan Murphy was scoring, then didn’t re-touch the bag on his way back to first. I’m still not sure how the rule book allows the run — I mean, I know, I just don’t see how it’s logical — but in any case, that’s one of the few times you’ll ever see a run scored on a sacrifice fly that ends an inning. Also one of the few times you’ll see an RBI credited to a batter who hits into a double play.

Anyway, that was only the tip of the iceberg, because Correia clearly was left out on the mound for one inning too many. The Mets chased him quickly in the 8th, and their fire grew into an inferno as the Bucs bullpen threw gasoline on it. When it was all said and done, the Mets — who didn’t get a hit until Jason Bay’s bleeder with two out in the fifth — collected 8 hits in the final two innings and a dozen overall.

If I told you before the game that Bay would get the first Mets hit and drive in their first run would you have believed it?

Jose Reyes had … ho-hum … another multi-hit day. Three hits, in fact, including his second homerun in three days. This constantly hitting thing is getting really boring. I can’t wait until the Mets trade Reyes already and get someone mediocre at the top of the lineup.

Reyes’ blast came in the ninth, immediately after pinch-hitter Scott Hairston hit a homer. Yes, Scott Hairston is still on the team, and believe it or not, he’s 6 for his last 14 — though, that’s going back almost a month (to May 14).

Willie Harris is also still on the roster, and he’s the one who started the 8th inning rally with a pinch-hit single. He’s now 4 for his last 20, which is a cool .200 and right at the Mendoza Line; he’s .223 on the year. I suppose the fact he sparked the rally justifies keeping him on the roster at least another month.

Next Mets Game

The final game of this four-game set begins at 7:05 PM on Monday night. Mike Pelfrey goes to the hill against Paul Maholm.