Mets Game 80: Win Over Tigers

Mets 16 Tigers 9

Thanks goodness for the Mets’ special teams and dominance by the defensive line, or this game might’ve gotten away.

Mets Game Notes

For the third time in the last four games, the Mets scored two touchdowns. This time, they did it without the help of the long ball.

Chris Capuano was disappointing; he was handed an 8-2 lead and couldn’t hold it. He didn’t walk anyone but was hit hard, giving up three gopher balls among the six hits and five runs allowed in five innings. His outing was glazed over by the offensive outburst, but it does have me concerned.

Both Angel Pagan and Ronny Paulino went 4-for-6 (or, a combined 8-for-12). Don’t look now, but Paulino is hitting .346, and suddenly challenging Jose Reyes for the team lead in batting average (though, he doesn’t have enough plate appearances to officially qualify for the batting title).

Bobby Parnell hit 100 MPH or more on nearly every one of his 14 pitches, touching 103 a few times. His command, however, was so-so — 8 strikes and 6 balls.

In the 7th, Terry Collins called in Tim Byrdak to relieve Pedro Beato, facing Andy Dirks with a man on. Just one problem: Byrdak had not been warming up. There was some kind of miscommunication and Parnell was the one who first emerged from the bullpen, running out on to the field. But Byrdak was the pitcher Collins wanted and notified the umpire as such, which meant Byrdak had to come into the game. Byrdak threw two pitches, Dirks hit the second one over the fence, and then left the game. According to the rules, Byrdak had no choice but to face a batter for an entire at-bat, so removing him after the first pitch was not an option.

The most effective Tiger pitcher of the night was outfielder Don Kelly, who came on with two outs in the ninth to retire Scott Hairston on a fly ball to center.

The Mets rapped 20 hits and walked 7 times. How often do you see 27 baserunners in one game?

Meanwhile, the Tigers hit 5 homeruns and lost the game by a touchdown. How often do you see that?

The Mets are now two games over .500 for the first time since they were 3-1 after the fourth game of the year. It’s exciting for us while we bask in our warm bubble, but not when we come out and compare that to the Phillies, who are currently 21 games over .500.

Next Mets Game

The Mets go for the sweep on getaway day on Thursday afternoon. Mike Pelfrey faces Justin Verlander in a 1 PM start — so if you are like me and working during the day, set the VCR / DVR. Expect to see a recap here at some point tomorrow night.