Finally, a T-shirt to show your support of Mets phenom Daniel Murphy!
These shirts come in several styles, in all sizes, and made from comfortable, breathable, 100% cotton. A portion of the proceeds goes toward the MetsToday server costs, the rest is swallowed by the production and delivery.
Be the first on your block to own a first-edition “Murphy’s Law” tee — order today!
Marlins 8 Mets 2
The Marlins avoided a sweep at Shea by blasting Mike Pelfrey for six runs in 4 and 2/3 innings, and riding behind the arm of Josh Johnson.
Big Pelf had a rough day, allowing 7 hits and 3 walks in a 98-pitch effort. The bullpen didn’t do much better, with Eddie Kunz uncorking a wild pitch to allow one of Pelfrey’s runners to score, and Carlos Muniz allowing two homers in the sixth inning.
From the offensive side, the Mets managed two runs thanks to an RBI groundout by Jose Reyes in the third and an RBI single by David Wright that scored Reyes in the sixth. Otherwise, pretty hum-drum game from the Mets fans’ point of view.
Notes
With Dan Murphy batting .500 going into the game, Argenis Reyes batting in the two-hole. Now, I like Argenis’ defense, but his .271 OBP doesn’t do it for me at the top of the lineup. Exactly why wasn’t Murphy — hands-down the hottest hitter on the Mets right now — guaranteed an at-bat in the first inning?
Speaking of strange moves, this game was a perfect example of how not to manage a bullpen — from both sides. With Pelfrey unable to finish the fifth inning, and the game on the verge of a blowout, Eddie Kunz was brought into the game for one-third of an inning. That move forced the Mets to use interim setup man Joe Smith in the eighth. If you don’t want Kunz hitting, why not pull a double-switch? Oh, because the best place to move the pitcher would be the sixth hole, where the hot-hitting Murphy was installed. Personally, I would have sent Kunz up to hit, so he could pitch another inning. It was two outs in the fifth, with the score 5-1. It wasn’t like Nick Evans was going to hit a five-run homer.
But the Marlins’ bullpen management was just as ridiculous. In the eighth, up by six with a man on third and two outs, Fredi Gonzalez brought in LOOGY Arthur Rhodes to face Carlos Delgado. Why? Even if Delgado homers, you’re still up by four. Even sillier, closer Kevin Gregg was brought in to finish the game in the ninth. I do realize he hadn’t pitched since August 7th, but what’s wrong with giving your closer a few days off — especially this late in the season and with a series opening tomorrow against the Cardinals?
Jose Reyes broke out of his mini-slump, going 2-for-4 with a double. Daniel Murphy had “only” one hit, and saw his average drop to .478.
Next Game
The Mets host the Pirates for a makeup game at 1:10 pm on Monday, before heading down to Washington on Tuesday. Pedro Martinez faces Zach Duke.
Mets 8 Marlins 6
Before the game began, we knew that a win would most likely require plenty of runs. After all, Brian Stokes — he of the 7.07 ERA last year — could not be counted on to shut out the Fish.
Ironically, Stokes delivered, pitching 5 2/3 innings and allowing 4 runs on 7 hits and 1 walk, striking out 6. He wasn’t spectacular, but he kept the Mets in the game and left with the score tied 4-4. In other words, he ate up innings.
The bullpen was so-so, but they didn’t have to be spectacular, either. Scott Schoeneweis finished the sixth with five pitches and ended up with the win. Duaner Sanchez earned a “hold” in spinning a scoreless seventh. Joe Smith allowed three runs in a third of an inning, but was bailed out by Pedro Feliciano, who managed to retire two on three pitches to set up a save for Aaron Heilman. Heilman pitched a perfect ninth to earn his second save in as many days.
Offensively, the Mets exploded. They got on the board first, in the first frame, thanks to the Carloses: a two-run double by Beltran followed by a two-run homer by Delgado. Another three runs came in the sixth when Fernando Tatis scored on a groundout and Daniel Murphy blasted a two-run, opposite-field, pinch-hit homerun off lefty Renyal Pinto. Beltran blasted a solo shot in the seventh to add an insurance run and cap off the Mets scoring.
Notes
Carlos Beltran finally did something worth talking about, going 3-for-3 with a walk, 3 RBI, and 2 runs scored.
David Wright was 3-for-4 with 2 doubles. Nick Evans hit in the two-hole and had two hits in four at-bats.
Murphy continues to hit .500, reminding us of Kevin Maas, Shane Spencer, Phil Plantier, and Mike Jacobs, among others. Keep it going, Danny boy!
How sad is it to be Matt Treanor, most famous as “the husband of Misty May”? Thanks to Matt, though, “Misty May-Treanor” sounds a lot less like a porn star than her nee / given name.
Next Game
The Mets go for the sweep on Sunday with Mike Pelfrey taking the mound against Josh Johnson in a battle of 6’7″ freaks. Game time is 1:10 pm and I’ll be at Shea, hosted in the SNY suite with other prominent Mets bloggers, so the postgame will be a little later than usual.
