Marlins 2 Mets 1
After a 1 hour and 20 minute rain delay to start the game, Edwin Rodriguez let reliever Burke Badenhop hit in the top of the 11th inning. Of course, Ryota Igarashi gave up the game-winning single to him. The Mets seemingly lost 2-1 in a way that only the only the Mets would lose in. Then in the bottom of the inning, it got crazier when Jonathan Niese pinch-hitting hit a triple over centerfielder Emilio Bonafacio’s head. But then as only the Mets would do, Jose Reyes struck out and ended the game. This better be the rock bottom of Mets losses, cause if it isn’t I wouldn’t even want to see where rock bottom would be.
Mets Game Notes
Mike Pelfrey pitched well for 6 innings but sort of lost his way in the seventh giving up a 450 ft plus home run to Michael Stanton. Pelf also let a few base runners get on but got out of the inning with the game tied at 1. That would be it for Pelf’s night.
Josh Johnson just didn’t have his good stuff today as he only went 5 innings and gave up one earned run. That seems like a good stat line but it looks like that because the Mets really didn’t take advantage of their opportunities against him. His outing showed how good of a pitcher he is that he can still pitch effectively even when he is off of his game.
Willie Harris played a very good, scot-free game defensive-wise at third base filling in for David Wright. Harris is normally in the outfield but his defensive play tonight showed his versatility and why he made this team out of spring training. Willie also made an amazing diving catch to end the 4th inning which robbed John Buck of a potential run-scoring extra base hit.
Ronny Paulino showed some nice defensive aggressiveness in the 3rd inning by throwing out Omar Infante at second on a Josh Johnson sacrifice bunt attempt. Paulino has turned out to be a very nice offseason acquisition for Sandy Alderson with his solid hitting and management of pitchers. He started off his Mets stint with a bang against the Phillies on May 1st with a 5 for 7 night at the plate. He also drove in the game-winning run in that 2-1 Mets win. Of course that was also the night when Americans heard the news of the death of terrorist Osama Bin Laden.
Daniel Murphy showed his inexperience at first base in the 4th inning on a Jose Reyes errant throw trying to get Greg Dobbs out at first. Reyes threw the ball a little down the line towards home plate but it was a play that Ike Davis would make to try a jumping tag on the baserunner. Murphy just doesn’t have the reps at first to make that kind of play. This begs to bring up the point of possibly playing Murphy at third and calling someone up from Triple-A Buffalo to play first.
Marlin left-handed reliever Mike Dunn shut down the Mets in the 7th and 8th throwing 2 perfect innings with 5 (yes 5) strikeouts. He went over to the Marlins from Atlanta in the Dan Uggla trade.
Justin Turner continued his clutch hitting this season with a double driving in Daniel Murphy from second in the 4th inning to give the Mets a rare 1-0 lead against Josh Johnson. This gives Turner 6 RBIs over his past two games.
Carlos Beltran also got in on the great defensive play with a great diving catch of a Chris Coughlan liner in the 5th inning. He got up and then threw to Jose Reyes covering second base to double off Omar Infante to end the inning.
With the bases loaded with 2 outs in the 9th, Terry Collins sent up Chin-Lung Hu to pinch hit for Willie Harris and he promptly grounded out to Hanley Ramirez sending the game to extra innings. Hu is only 1-20 at the plate this year (I don’t get why Terry keeps pinch-hitting him in clutch, end of the game situations).
Next Mets Game
The Mets host the Marlins at Citi Field on Tuesday night at 7:10 pm weather permitting to end the quick 2-game series. Jonathan Niese goes for the Mets and Ricky Nolasco goes for Florida.
Did you know that May is “Brain Tumor Awareness Month”?