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August 5, 2011 Mets 2011 Games Joe Janish

Mets Game 111: Loss to Braves

Braves 4 Mets 1

It didn’t seem that long ago that the Mets won five straight, were a season-high four games over .500, and still threatening to keep Wild Card hopes alive. Since then they’ve lost five in a row and are now one game under .500. In contrast, the Wild Card leading Braves are now 17 games over that magical number.

Mets Game Notes

Can’t really be upset with R.A. Dickey‘s outing. The knuckleballer went seven solid innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits an no walks, with five strikeouts. When a pitcher can put out that kind of effort, he has a pretty darn good chance of winning. Unless, of course, your team’s offense cannot muster more than four hits and a run.

Tim Hudson was really on his game. Like Dickey, he went seven innings. But the Braves crossed the plate more often and once a team enters the 8th behind in the linescore, it’s pretty difficult to turn the tables against the lights-out combo of Jonny Venters and Craig Kimbrel. Those two youngsters remind me of the year the Yankees shut the door with Mariano Rivera in the 8th and John Wetteland in the 9th.

Dan Uggla extended his hitting streak to 26 games when he ripped a single off of Ryota Igarashi in the 8th that drove in two insurance runs.

Igarashi and Tim Byrdak were less than acceptable on this particular evening. Not that it mattered, since the offense wasn’t scoring anyway.

If you read the series preview you know I suggested that you keep an eye on Jose Constanza. Constanza went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI and played stellar defense in left field, possibly robbing Jose Reyes of two triples.

Good thing it was Fiesta Latina Night, so the fans had something to smile about. Some day, hopefully, the focus at Citi Field will be baseball, instead of music, dancing, and Shake Shack.

Next Mets Game

The Mets and Braves do it again on Saturday evening at 7:10 PM. Jonathon Niese goes to the hill against Tommy Hanson.

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. Joe August 5, 2011 at 10:26 pm
    Braves rookie trumps Reyes.

    Murphy/Wright work out good at bats vs. Venters to put tying runs on base. Pagan/Bay first pitch swinging, two easy outs.

    Some reason Beato didn’t pitch the 8th?

    Team is failing on all cylinders depending on the game during this streak. Questionable manager moves. Misplays. Relief pitching. Not hitting in key moments. The only thing we have yet to see is a truly lousy start. Bound to happen soon.

  2. gary s. August 6, 2011 at 12:10 am
    Time to book more soccer at citifield and less baseball for the rest of the summer.Yankees can’t lose, Mets can’t get out of their way.Yawn..Thanks jeff and fred for another great year of baseball.I’m ready for some football.
  3. izzy August 6, 2011 at 6:42 am
    Wonder why the Met announcers don’t explain why 23 year old Kimbrell doesn’t need a tutor until his 27 th birthday like our closer someday Parnell? Braves addressed their biggest flaws, lack of speed and outfield defense with Born and Constanza, while we hear that the Mets might give us a speedy outfield of Murphy, Bay and Duda next year. Oh, the triples will be flowing from the visitors next year. Give those pitchers a pay raise now because next year the ERA’s will be exploding with thoise speedsters in the city cavern.
    I agree gary s….. its time for football.
  4. gary s. August 6, 2011 at 8:30 am
    izzy, It’s hard to explain the unexplainable.In 7 weeks the yankees will be preparing for the playoffs and met fans will get a letter from Jeff Wilpon apologizing for the mets finishing in last place.If form holds up, there will be no reduction in parking price, the outfield fences and walls or the ripoff food prices.Maybe seat pricing will be reduced another 5 -10 per cent (still way too high) and we will be asked to buy packages for 2012 with exorbitant handling fees.Can’t worry about that now.I’m going to Florham Park to watch Jets practice.J E T S!!!!!!