Game 40: Loss to Braves
Braves 3, Mets 2
The Mets went into Atlanta needing two quality starts from their two quality starters – Mike Pelfrey and Johan Santana…
And they got two quality starts…
But only one win.
Santana went seven innings, allowing two runs and four hits. Meanwhile Kris Medlen was almost as good, allowing two runs and four hits over 6 1/3 innings. The scoring on both sides came entirely from home runs – Troy Glaus hit a 2-run home run in the 3rd inning, but Ike Davis and Jeff Francoeur each hit solo shots in the 5th inning, leaving the score tied at 2-2.
And that’s where it stayed until Jenrry Mejia – who was not sent down to the minors, despite reports to the contrary – came on in the bottom of the 9th inning. Mejia entered the game with a runner on first and nobody out.
Mejia faced Yunel Escobar in an at-bat that must have driven Bobby Cox nuts. Escobar failed to get a sacrifice bunt down, but Mejia eventually walked him. Runners on first and second, no outs.
Up next, Melky Cabrera did his best Yunel Escobar imitation – failing to get down a sacrifice bunt on two attempts, no doubt driving Cox further up the wall he was already climbing.
Cox took the bunt off and Cabrera responded by hitting a chopper to David Wright, whose hurried throw tailed towards the runner and past Ike Davis.
Game over. Ugh.
Random Notes: There isn’t much to add except I wonder if David Wright’s larger glove is playing into his recent fielding woes. The issue of Wright’s glove was brought up during tonight’s edition of Show and Tell with Kevin Burkhardt – I didn’t catch the whole conversation, but the larger glove was apparently Jerry Manuel’s idea.
Wright has always been a tad overrated in the field, but he was always dependable, for the most part. But he dropped a routine throw in Florida on Sunday and today’s throw – while not routine – should have been made. Maybe he had trouble getting the ball out of his glove. Regardless, I’m not sure I understand the theory of forcing a competent major league third baseman to use a larger glove.
Next Mets Game
The Mets travel to Washington to take on the Nationals tomorrow night. Knuckleballer RA Dickey makes his Mets debut against Livan Hernandez. With the amount of 65 mph pitches being thrown, the game should be over by the year 2032. We’ll all have flying cars by then and Jose Reyes will be 85% machine (Robo Reyes), so that should be fun…
Enjoy this flying dog (wait for it):
