Mets Game 68: Win Over Braves

Mets 4 Braves 0

The Mets are starting to look like the best of the mediocre teams in the NL. Don’t believe it? Just look at their record: they’re finally at .500.

Mets Game Notes

Dillon Gee gave the Mets four stellar, shutout innings, allowing only one hit, two walks, and striking out five while lowering his season ERA to 2.86. The game was then delayed due to rain and lightning, and when game action resumed, both teams looked half-asleep (actually, the Braves hitters looked still asleep), which was great for the Mets since they had a three-zip lead. Unfortunately for Gee, it was one inning short of an official victory. Too bad, because he was cruising and seemed in line for win #8.

Strangely enough, Bobby Parnell was awarded the win instead of D.J. Carrasco, despite the fact that both pitched two innings apiece and Carrasco allowed no baserunners while Parnell allowed a single. I suppose the official scorer has something against people who use initials in place of their first name.

The Mets had the lead from the start, thanks to a Jose Reyes double and throwing error that pushed him to third; he scored on a groundout by Ruben Tejada. Then in the top of the fourth, the wind blew an Angel Pagan fly into the right field stands to give the Mets a three-run lead. They scratched out their fourth on a bases-loaded groundout by Reyes in the 7th.

Jason Bay had two hits — both singles, both line drives hit off of hanging breaking pitches. When Bay is “on”, he’d mash those for extra-base hits. But, we’ll take baby steps right now. Bay also stole a base; he’s trying to do everything he can to be productive, making it hard not to root for him through this tough time.

A little strange to see Josh Thole sac bunting with none out and men on first and second in the 7th. I get the idea of moving the runners when you have a three-run lead, but I don’t get doing it unless you have a batter at the plate who is a capable bunter — which Thole is not. I suppose there was also some concern that Thole might bounce into a double play. But still, you can’t bunt just because the situation calls for it — you have to have a person in the batter’s box who knows how to drop one down. As it was, Thole worked a walk to load the bases, so it didn’t matter. But, I tend to focus on the process, rather than the result.

In the top of the eighth, Angel Pagan was thrown out stealing. Pagan did not slide into second base and was tagged as he came in standing up. Had he slid, he might’ve had a shot to be safe. I have no idea why he didn’t slide. Either he had a brain freeze or maybe Dan Uggla somehow deked him? I can’t think of a reason why a runner would not slide into second, other than if the ball was hit.

Bobby Parnell was dominating, striking out 5 in his two-inning stint. He was hitting 98 MPH on the gun and getting third-strike swings and misses on the slider. I’d like to get excited about this but I’ve been fooled before. Can you blame me?

Hey, the Mets held the Braves to only two hits in this shutout. The fact the Braves packed it in after the rain delay might’ve had something to do with that, but it’s still impressive.

Frankie Rodriguez came in to a non-save situation to close out the game and earn his 27th “finish”. He’s almost halfway home to the pot of gold.

Next Mets Game

The Mets go for the sweep in Atlanta — which is much more rare than a full lunar eclipse — with a 7:10 PM starting time on Thursday. R.A. Dickey goes to the mound against 23-year-old lefty Mike Minor.