Mets 7 Reds 5

So much for the pitcher’s duel.

The Mets jumped on Edinson Volquez early, scoring three runs in the first three innings and running up his pitch count. They knocked him out by the fifth but had a slim 5-4 lead as Mike Pelfrey also was roughed up by the Reds.

Pelfrey, though, was more efficient with his pitches, and worked through seven frames before leaving the game. He pitched well enough to keep the Mets in the game, but not well enough to win – 7 IP, 5 ER, 6 H, 1 BB, 4 K. Pelf’s bugaboo was the longball — he gave up 3 dingers in the bandbox known as the All-American Ballpark. How small is Cincinnati’s field? Consider that Pelfrey allowed only seven homers all year prior to the contest, and just one in his previous 14 games.

After the Mets started the game with a 1-0 lead, the Reds tied it on a solo homer by Adam Dunn in the second, but Ramon Castro blasted a two-run homer to make it 3-1. The Mets tacked on another in the fourth on a sac fly by David Wright (driving in, who else, Jose Reyes), and then Pelfrey ran into trouble, allowing three runs in the bottom of the frame.

That was the only inning that Pelfrey struggled, but he gave up the lead on a solo homer by Brandon Phillips. The Mets fought back and tied the game in the seventh when Carlos Delgado singled in David Wright. The game remained 5-5 through regulation.

In the 10th inning, however, Reds reliever Bill Bray ran into trouble quickly. First, he gave up a leadoff double to pinch-hitter Robinson Cancel, and a bunt by Jose Reyes put runners on the corners. Argenis “Middle of Everything” Reyes followed with a grounder to third that Edwin Encarnacion threw into right field, allowing Cancel to score and putting runners at second and third. David Wright was walked intentionally to load the bases, Carlos Beltran struck out, and then Delgado came through in the clutch for the second time in the game with a sac fly to score Reyes.

Billy Wagner came on in the bottom of the 10th and struck out the side to earn his 24th save.

Notes

Carlos Delgado must have found Juan Ponce de Leon’s map of the Fountain of Youth, because he looks like a different person the last few weeks. He went 3-for-4 with a walk, a double, and 2 RBI, and blistered the ball all over the place. He’s now hitting over .260 and .397 for the month of July. His batting average coming into July was .228. If he keeps up this pace there is no doubt in my mind that the Mets make it to the postseason.

Carlos Beltran had a spectacular at-bat in the first inning. He fell behind 1-2 with runners on the corners, and fouled off several close “pitcher’s pitches” before finally dumping another tough pitch into shallow left for a base hit. No doubt his statuesque effort from the night before influenced this at-bat. It was a “breath of fresh air” to see Beltran cut down his swing and be more “defensively aggressive” with a two-strike count and runners in scoring position.

Jose Reyes sprinted to his 63rd career triple in the fourth, breaking Mookie Wilson’s all-time Mets record of 62. Let’s hope he stays with the Mets long enough to hit another 63.

After Delgado’s third-inning double, Keith Hernandez suggested that he could be moved back into the cleanup spot. That might be an OK idea, but it was the rest of Keith’s lineup that bothered me — particularly, moving David Wright to fifth, Carlos Beltran to third, and Endy Chavez to second. That’s a bizarre head-scratcher to me. Call me crazy, but you don’t bat the best hitter in your lineup (Wright) anywhere but third — you certainly don’t bury him in the fifth spot. You want your best hitter to get an at-bat, guaranteed, in the first inning — so he bats 1, 2, or 3. Similarly, you don’t put your lowest OBP guy in any of those first three spots; therefore Chavez does NOT bat second. I’ll never understand good baseball minds like Hernandez getting blinded by speed alone. For example, Chuck Tanner used to bat Omar Moreno leadoff, and Billy Martin did the same with Mickey Rivers, yet both players rarely posted OBP’s above .320 (Moreno struggled to get over .300). Hernandez was referring to when Ryan Church would be healthy — if that’s the case, Church and his .370 OBP should bat second. If not Church, then Luis Castillo (if and when he’s ever healthy).

I know Wright went 3-for-4 the other day, but his selection when ahead on counts has been poor lately — he’s often swinging at bad pitches on 2-0, 2-1, and 3-1 counts. The good thing is, he’s continuing to get himself into those advantageous counts.

If I got one thing out of the Cincinnati series it was this: Brandon Phillips is a Gold Glove second baseman, and deserves serious consideration regardless of Orlando Hudson.

Next Game

The Mets get a day off on Monday, then travel to Philadelphia home for a three-game set. This was exactly what I hoped for: a split in Cincinnati, then face the Phillies still tied for first. The Mets’ fate is in their hands. Johan Santana faces newly acquired Joe Blanton on Tuesday at 7:10 pm in Citizen’s Bank Park Shea Stadium.

Reds 7 Mets 2

We could blame Carlos Beltran for giving away two runs in the field and impersonating a statue with runners on base at the bat. But this loss comes down to one thing: how in the world did Josh Fogg — he of the 7.94 ERA — hold the Mets to one earned run in six innings?

It is quite a mystery.

While in the process of not driving runners home, the Mets wasted a fine effort by Oliver Perez, who deserved better. Ollie pitched six innings, allowing three runs on six hits and three walks, striking out six. He was lifted for a pinch-hitter after 87 pitches, and likely had at least another frame or two in him. But it wouldn’t have mattered, since the Mets bats were completely impotent after runners reached base.

With their inability to drive in runs on this evening, I’m OK with the bullpen finally breaking down (Pedro Feliciano allowed 4 runs) — it was bound to happen, and I’d rather they give up the runs during a game like this, rather than one in which the Mets had a chance to win.

Notes

David Wright went 3-for-4, including a double and his 19th homerun. Carlos Delgado had two hits in three at-bats. No one else in the lineup had more than one hit.

Is Jeff Keppinger still sore about not getting a fair shake from the Mets during his tenure with them? Well, he’s now 13-for-26 against the Mets …. I guess it could be a coincidence.

I know people are getting tired of me bringing up the love for Jerry Manuel. But you know what? I’m getting tired of the SNY announcers analyzing every single managerial move and telling us how they’re such good moves. There was nary a mention when Willie Randolph brought in a pinch-hitter, or a reliever, but every time Manuel passes gas we have to hear how flowery it smells. Case in point: bottom of the 7th inning, Gary and Keith tell us how Manuel made great moves in the top of the inning to put the Mets in position to execute, with Keith lamenting what a shame it is when a manager makes the “wrong” moves, but the players execute, and the manager comes out smelling like a rose, yet never gets credit for making the “right” moves and the players failing. Whatever. A minute later Keith let us know he “agreed with” Manuel’s decision to intentionally walk Brandon Phillips to set up a double play situation for Adam Dunn. Never mind that Dunn is a fly ball, rather than ground ball, hitter. As it turned out, Dunn hit an RBI single.

Again, I’m FOR Jerry Manuel, and this rant has nothing to do with him. What I don’t get is where was all this move-by-move analysis when Randolph was at the helm? Good, bad, or indifferent — where was it? Is it possible that Willie’s public criticism of TV station’s coverage resulted in an SNY directive to show the Mets manager (whoever he is) in a positive light? Very fishy.

Next Game

Mike Pelfrey goes against Edinson Volquez in a 1:15 pm start. As stated before this series, I’d be fine with a split, and the Mets still have a chance to pull that off, and go into Philadelphia with a chance to take direct control of the top of the division.

Reds 5 Mets 2

Not even the genius of Jerry Manuel could save the Mets on this evening, as their 10-game winning streak came to a close in Cincinnati.

Once again the Mets starting pitcher — in this case John Maine — crapped the bed and put the team in a hole. For the second time in his last three starts, Maine couldn’t pitch past the fifth. Five was the big number for Maine — he allowed 5 runs on 5 hits and 5 walks and struck out 5 before being removed with two outs in the 5th. He exited after 103 pitches and left the bases loaded for Scott Schoeneweis, who failed in his duty to clear the bases; lucky for Maine, Scho retired Joey Votto to end the inning.

The Mets offense was awful in this game, with only Carlos Beltran able to hit the ball hard and safely. Beltran’s double and triple comprised half of the hits, and David Wright drew the team’s only walks (two). The rest of the team was completely mystified by the 75-MPH curves of Bronson Arroyo, who came into the game with a 5.94 ERA but held the Mets to 4 hits and 2 runs in 8 innings.

If there was a bright spot, it was that Schoeneweis, Joe Smith, and Aaron Heilman shut out the Reds through 3 1/3 innings.

Notes

Bronson Arroyo reminds me of the skinny kid in little league who could throw a spinner, threw it every pitch, smiling the entire time because he knew he was the only kid in the league allowed to throw a curve and was therefore getting away with something.

Poor pitch selection by the Mets’ batters this evening. And once they went down by three, there were too many hitters swinging from their heels before seeing a strike. Would have been nice to see a little patience against Arroyo, who threw almost exclusively curveballs and sliders.

Conversely, what was the thinking behind having Maine intentionally walk the bases loaded at a time when he clearly had no command of the strike zone? Even his strikes were off the mark.

Funny how Jerry Manuel can do a fantastic job managing the Mets to a come-from-behind victory one night, but can’t repeat it the next. Or was it the stupendous clutch hitting of David Wright that won the opener?

Believe me, I like Manuel, and I’ve come to understand Randolph had to go. But I’m still tired of hearing the SNY announcers tell me about what a genius he is. Any manager in the midst of a 10-game winning streak will look smart. Look at Bud Harrelson — he managed a team through 10 straight, but no one would ever confuse him with Tony LaRussa. Praise Manuel for what he is — a guy who is standing back and allowing the players to play, rather than some amazing in-game tactician.

And while I’m in a disagreeable mood (losses do that to me) … In the ninth inning, Gary Cohen and Keith Hernandez discussed Fernando Martinez, with both agreeing that F-Mart would be the starting left fielder in 2009. In fact there was no discussion about WHETHER he’d be the starter, but rather they spoke as if it were a given. I imagine Gary and Keith have some inside info the rest of us don’t, and so it surprises me that the organization is so confident in F-Mart’s abilities. Without raining on the Fernando Martinez parade, I just don’t see how anyone could be so certain that a 19-year-old who is doing OK in AA — not dominating, not great, but just OK — can be counted on to be an MLB starter on a contending team in less than a year. Believe me, I’m all for promoting the youth, and building a team from within, but I just don’t see F-Mart being ready so quickly. But then, that’s why I’m a blogger and not a professional baseball evaluator — I can’t project.

BTW, maybe I can’t project, but I can analyze. If you listened to me on “Live from Mickey Mantle’s“, I mentioned that John Maine’s struggles were due specifically to his opening his front shoulder too soon, which has been throwing off his command (I wrote about the same both here at MetsToday and on MetsBlog in recent weeks). I mentioned this on the show when the game was in the first inning. Remarkably, Lee Mazzilli’s post-game analysis of Maine was similar exactly the same — in fact almost word-for-word, and he also used some nifty stop-action video to illustrate the point. Maybe Maz was sitting at the bar of Mickey’s? In any case, I hope Dan Warthen is aware of the issue and can get it corrected pronto.

Next Game

Mets and Reds do it again on Saturday at 7:40 pm, with Oliver Perez facing Josh Fogg. The Mets should beat up on Fogg, but then, they should have beaten up on Arroyo. The Mets’ chance for success in the game will depend on which Ollie shows up.

Mets 10 Reds 8

The Mets won their 10th in the row — the first time they’ve done that since 1991 — and pulled into a tie for first place.

Their “ace” shat the bed, but the Reds starter was one run worse. In the end, it was a battle of the bullpens.

Johan Santana allowed five runs in four innings in the Cincinnati bandbox, and was gone from the game before the fifth frame began. However, the Mets’ offense stormed back with six scores against Cincy starter Johnny Cueto, and made a game of it.

It was all about the long ball in this contest, with the Reds scoring 5 runs in the fourth on homeruns, a double, and a triple, and the Mets gaining six of their ten runs via the homerun stroke.

Fernando Tatis dropped an opposite field fly ball just beyond the right-center wall, driving in himself and Carlos Delgado to give the Mets a 6-5 advantage in the top of the sixth. From there it was up to the bullpen to hold the slim lead.

Carlos Muniz did his job through an inning and a third, and Pedro Feliciano was equally effective in his 2/3 of an inning. Aaron Heilman got two quick outs, and seemed poised to keep the scoreless streak going, then lost his command and loaded the bases. Scott Schoeneweis, who has been “tremendous this year” (per Gary Cohen), came on to put out the fire but used gasoline instead of water. Schoeneweis kept his ERA tidy, but allowed Javier Valentin to clear the bases of all three inherited runners to give the Reds an 8-6 lead.

The score stayed that way until the ninth, when Reds closer Francisco Cordero came on and started things off by striking out Jose Reyes. Pinch-hitter Argenis Reyes stroked a single up the middle, and David Wright followed with another huge, clutch hit — a two-run, opposite field homer to tie up the score.

But the Mets weren’t done there. Carlos Beltran re-started things with a single to right, and was chased to third on another single to right by Damion Easley. Beltran scored the go-ahead run on a bloop single by Carlos Delgado — who spoiled a great two-strike pitch by Cordero. I swear that splitter was an inch off the ground when Delgado stuck out his bat and just met it — outstanding job by Delgado. Red-hot Fernando Tatis then mashed a double down the left field line to score Easley and chase Cordero from the game.

Billy Wagner made up for his forgettable All-Star appearance by pitching a 1-2-3 ninth in notching his 23rd save.

Notes

Santana’s line: 4 IP | 6 H | 5 ER | 3 BB | 2 K | 92 pitches. Ouch.

Schoeneweis has now allowed 14 of 29 inherited runners to score. For those who aren’t aware, that is horrendous.

The Reds were 34-1 this season when leading after the 7th inning.

Carlos Delgado finally reached .250 (.254 in fact), with three hits including a monster two-run homerun that gave the Mets their first lead of the game. Tatis also had three hits, pushing his average to .304.

Two seconds after Keith Hernandez claims “Carlos Delgado has not lost any bat speed, when he keeps his hands back he has extremely fast hands”, Delgado gets beat by an 89-MPH fastball by David Weathers. Whatever you say, Mex.

Speaking of, I love watching David Weathers — always did, since he was a Met. The guy had absolutely nothing and somehow got three tough outs after putting men on first and second. All guts. And one ugly dude, too. Mets should have held on to both him and Dan Wheeler (and Chad Bradford).

David Wright hit a clutch two-out single in the fifth to score Nick Evans and Brian Schneider and pull within one run — making the score 5-4 and setting the stage for Tatis in the next frame.

Nice to see Marlon Anderson stroke a line-drive base hit to the opposite field in his pinch-hitting appearance. If Marlon doesn’t hit, he doesn’t have much value to the club.

Also nice to see Aaron Heilman throwing lots of fastballs, but not nice to see his release point, which again has dropped to a dangerous level. He’s too far down around sidearm, which is causing his fastball to go up. He needs to get closer to 3/4 and keep his fingers on top of the ball at release, so that his pitches go down / sink. When his throwing motion can’t be differentiated from Joe Smith’s, Heilman will have command problems. This has been an issue since 2005.

Jeff Keppinger continued his personal assault on the Metropolitans. He had two hits and nearly a third, but his line drive in the eighth was speared by David Wright.

It wasn’t long ago that I would drop everything and stare at the TV screen when Ken Griffey, Jr. came to bat. Now when he’s hitting, I get up and go to the kitchen for a beer.

From my angle, it looked like Jose Reyes got jobbed on strikes one and two in the ninth against Francisco Cordero. Both pitches looked outside, and Jose had no choice but to protect against a third outside pitch, which turned out to be a nasty splitter.

The Mets used 7 pitchers in the game, and 8 names appeared in the box score in the second slot in the order.