Mets Game 143: Win Over Braves
Mets 3 Braves 2
It was a classic pitchers’ duel between Oliver Perez and Tim Hudson.
Hudson made few mistakes, but Perez made a few less.
Ollie went 7 full innings, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks, striking out 7. He was focused, pitched with a consistent arm angle, and was on top of his game. It was one of his most impressive performances of the season.
The Mets could muster only one measly run against Hudson through the first five — the lone run scored by Jose Reyes in the initial inning on a groundout by Carlos Beltran. Hudson was rolling ground balls like it was his job, as the Mets killed worms for five innings. Then in the sixth, Reyes led off with a walk, and was sacrificed to second on a great bunt by Luis Castillo, bringing up David Wright. Wright worked the count to 2-2, then went down and drove a flat sidearm slider into the leftfield bleachers for his 28th homer of the season, making the score 3-0.
Perez began the following inning — the seventh — with two quick outs sandwiching a single by Jeff Francoeur. He then went to a full count to Brian McCann before uncorking one of his few mistakes of the evening — a waist-high fastball that got a bit too much of the plate. McCann jumped all over it, blasting it over the rightfield fence to make the score 3-2. Ollie kept his cool and rebounded by striking out Willie Harris, whose body language clearly screamed that he wanted no part of facing Perez at that time.
Aaron Heilman came on to pitch a perfect eighth, bridging the gap to Billy Wagner, who pitched a 1-2-3 inning capped by a sliding catch web gem in the gap by Beltran to end the game.
Notes
A turning point in the game came in the sixth, when the Braves got men on first and second with none out and Edgar Renteria at the plate. Renteria lined out to Wright, then Perez picked off Hudson straying too far from second to squash the threat (a perfect timing play between Ollie and Luis Castillo), and Perez proceeded to strike out Matt Diaz looking to end the inning.
Castillo is really hobbling around on that bad knee, but is somehow gritting through it and both making plays and running the bases well. It’s kind of scary — if his knee were healthy, I think he’d be getting to a few more balls, stealing more bases, and hitting at least 15-20 points higher. And yet he’s still been remarkably effective on the bad wheel.
Reyes finally drew a walk — his first in 37 at-bats — and added a hit and his 75th stolen base. He still looks like he’s jumping a bit at the ball, and making his decision to swing too early, but on several pitches he stayed back the way he should, letting the ball get deep. I’d be fine with him slowly getting his stroke back, then exploding in, say, October.
David Wright is hitting like a man possessed. Those MVP chants at Shea may well become reality. Interestingly, the Mets have never had a Most Valuable Player in their history.
Tim Hudson has to be suffering from some kind of shoulder ailment — or at the minimum, fatigue. He was dropping down sidearm far more often than normal, and moving his arm around in gingerly motions. He’s a pretty tough competitor, so it wouldn’t be a surprise that he’s pitching hurt — and it might explain his last few starts, which have been less than stellar.
SNY finally turned down the orange tint a bit. In their postgame show, both Matt Yalloff and Lee Mazzilli looked nearly human.
Next Game
The Mets and Braves do it again at 7:10 PM. Orlando Hernandez is scheduled to start against Buddy Carlyle — we’ll see if El Duque is good enough to go.
Sort of surprised that Heilman and Wagner were allowed to work for a third straight game. They both got the job done so no harm done, but, again, an interesting decision considering claims of getting overworked this season. I can understand, though, that Willie wanted to start the Atlanta series off on the right foot using his best guys and ensure winning at least one game. Safe to say Heilman and Wagner definitely get the day off on Tuesday?
Mets w/o Delgado: 4-0. How about that?
Regarding a previous statement by Mic: I disagree that Duque is the candidate to go to the pen in the postseason. Has he not been the most consistent SP on the team this year? And his reward for a 9-4 record and 3.32 ERA is a demotion? Yes, he has postseason experience as a reliever, but he also has 9 career wins as a starter in the playoffs, too. So I say as long as he’s healthy he’s going to be starting in October. I think the most sensical candidate for bullpen duty in the playoffs is Maine, as his 2nd half has been sub-par and his performance in last year’s playoffs, compared to Glavine and Perez, was worst.
I don’t know if Wags gets the day off tomorrow … if it’s another tight game, and the Mets have a one-run lead going into the ninth, who else would you bring in?
I have to agree that El Duque absolutely positively must be a starter in the postseason, assuming he’s completely recovered from the foot injury. He’s been too good this year, and he’s been known to turn it up a notch in the big games. He’s the kind of guy who can give you an 8-inning game in the playoffs.
But let’s not get the cart ahead of the horse … let’s get that magic number down into the single digits before we start talking postseason plans.
However, re: Wagner, he’s gotta get an off day Tuesday no matter what. Although he hasn’t had to throw more than 13 pitches in any of his last 3 appearances, I don’t see how you can march a pitcher of Wagner’s importance out there for a 4th straight game just a week or so removed from a “dead arm” period. You can’t tell me having him close out a game against the LOWLY Braves (ah, that feels good to say) in September is more important than having him fresh and healthy in October.
Feliciano has two saves, give him the opp.
To be fair, ID, Wags is going to get Thursday off. 😉
2 quick salvos: a. Since the Phillies series the Mets have totally come together: I think the Sept 1st marker, the extra players and 6man rotation are factors. Humber looks like a viable reliever (where Pelfrey did not), and I think even if Pelfrey cannot crack the post season roster I love that he is proving he can be the 5th guy next year.
b. I will stand on my point (which might be moot) about El Duque. My reason for his BP assignment is NOT that he is worst than Maine but that he translates into a better pitcher out of the pen than Maine. I dont see maine (ala Traxx) is being a short suspense/warm up quick/get focused pitcher. In the playoffs I see close games where we need a stud in the 5-7th to bridge a gap and as constructed that is a deficit. Last yr the BP was a weakness in the playoffs…for whatever reason.
I think your man-crush on Humber is nearly as passionate as mine for Shawn Green (and Ruben Gotay). And though I’m higher than a kite on Humber, I don’t see how looks like a more viable reliever after one shaky relief appearance. Though, I WOULD like to see him come out of the ‘pen several more times in the next few weeks, as we are desperate for a 2006 Mota to team with Heilman and lock down 7th and 8th innings.
Your point on El Duque is well respected, but I’ll continue to disagree. A short series can be won with great starting pitching, and Duque is the guy most likely to give us a lights-out start.
I do agree that we need a stud in that 5-7 gap, and wish like hell that Pelfrey or Humber would be given some opps to be the lightning in a bottle to take that spot.
Maybe we can Mota back on the juice?
If anyone has similar examples, send them on.
Joe: other names rumored to be a Met in 2007….
1. Julio Lugo
2. Alfonso Soriano
3. Mike Mussina
4. Does Chad Bradford count?