Mets Fans Forever

Mets Finish Up Successful Home Stand With Victory over Marlins

Author: Paul Zinn

The Mets continued to battle a number of factors Sunday afternoon, but once again found a way to win, defeating the Marlins, 3-2, to wrap up an extremely successful homestand.

Carlos Beltran was out of the lineup with a stomach virus that also forced starting pitching John Maine to exit at the beginning of the seventh inning in the midst of an excellent effort. To make matters worse, Beltran's replacement, Angel Pagan, injured his groin chasing down a Hanley Ramirez double in the fourth inning and had to leave.

Then, the Mets were forced to survive J.J. Putz's attempts to make Maine's efforts go to waste in the late innings.

The Mets got Maine a lead in the third. Wilson Valdez drew a one out walk, went to second on Maine's sacrifice and scored on Pagan's double down the leftfield line.

Maine (5-3) was great through six innings, not allowing a run on three hits. He left to start the seventh with an upset stomach that appears to be making its way through the Citi Field clubhouses.

However, it didn't seem to matter because Pedro Feliciano pitched a one-two-three seventh, and New York tacked on two more in the bottom half on run-scoring doubles by Fernando Martinez and Omir Santos.

Putz nearly gave things away in the eighth though. With two on and one out, he allowed an RBI single to Emilio Bonifacio. Jerry Manual then lifted Putz in favor of Bobby Parnell, who promptly gave up a run-scoring single to Ramirez that made it 3-2.

Suddenly the Marlins had runners on the corners down one run and with just one out. Parnell worked out of it though, saving the day by striking out Jorge Cantu and then inducing Jeremy Hermida to fly out to left, ending the threat.

Francisco Rodriguez worked the ninth for the save.

Overall, the Mets won five of six on the home stand, and now embark on a seven-game road trip to Pittsburgh and Washington. At PNC Park tomorrow, Livan Hernandez (4-1) faces Ian Snell (1-6) in the opener of a four-game set at 7:05.

Castro Traded To White Sox

Author: Will Sommer

Well Omir Santos won't be sent down to AAA. Why? Ramon Castro was just traded to the White Sox for RHP Lance Broadway. With Brian Schneider coming off the DL tomorrow the Mets had to make a move. There was no way the Mets would demote Santos especially after tonight's game. I wish Castro got to stay with the Mets, but the Mets have Schneider waiting, and the Mets weren't about to go to a 3 catcher system. Don't expect anything from Schneider, but do expect Santos to keep swinging a hot bat.

Smoke And Mirrors

Author: Clare Lafferty

If you look at the Mets lineup over the past week or so, all you can deduce is that the Mets are winning using smoke and mirrors. Really - -look at the lineup. Ramon Martinez instead of Jose Reyes. Fernando Martinez, the Mets highly touted player of the future now playing instead of Ryan Church (and if he wants to continue playing, F-Mart needs to run out every play). Daniel Murphy playing 1^st instead of Carlos Delgado. Omir Santos, not Brian Schneider. And how about the rebirth of Gary Sheffield?

      I know that the schedule has favored the Mets recently, but they did beat the Red Sox 2 out of 3 games with basically this lineup. Mets fans should be very happy at the way the Mets are playing right now. Finally, we have some gritty playing and a little swagger back.

      David Wright and Carlos Beltran continue their hot hitting and of course, we have the best pitcher in the majors in Johan Santana. Even in his last 2 starts, which were not vintage Johan, the Mets gave him run support enough for the wins.

      The Mets need to win as many of the upcoming games as possible even with their “subs” in if they want to keep pace with the Phillies. The way they are presently playing, the wins can continue. Winning also takes the pressure off the injured players to have to hurry back into the lineup. The Mets now play Florida and then the Pirates - -teams they should beat. Let’s see if the Mets can continue with their particular brand of magic.  
 
 

Mets Sweep Nats With 7-4 Victory

Author: Paul Zinn

In spite of a still-depleted lineup and a less than excellent start from ace Johan Santana, the Mets (26-20) worked through it with a 7-4 victory and three-game sweep of the Washington Nationals at Citi Field tonight.

This was a win that was satisying on a lot of levels, and the series was as well. Despite a lot going wrong, the Mets still managed to dig down and sweep a team that they should sweep. New York has now won five of six since a three-game sweep to the Dodgers.

With the victory and a Phillies loss to the Marlins, the Mets moved back into first place.

Santana's (7-2, most in National League) line read six innings, three hits, three runs, 11 strikeouts and six walks at the end of his evening.

The Mets got Santana a 3-0 lead, but he gave it back during a difficult fourth inning. Adam Dunn had a two-run homer off the Met pitcher, and Santana then walked four more, including Nationals' pitcher Jordan Zimmerman, which ultimately lead to the tying run.

This was the first time since July of last season that Santana has allowed more than two runs in a start at home, a durational stretch in starts that hasn't been equaled since 1900. And after he had thrown 120 pitches after six innings, Santana was clearly done.

But with their last opportunity to get him a victory, the Mets got some runs in the bottom half. Gary Sheffield, who earlier had a two-run double that gave New York a 2-0 lead, walked to start the inning, bringing up Daniel Murphy.

Murphy has not been himself at the plate lately (mired in a 4-for-43 slump), but he took advantage after Ryan Zimmerman failed to turn a double play to end the third inning when he bobbled a hard grounder from Sheffield. Murphy followed by slipping a grounder past Nationals' first baseman Nick Johnson for a 3-0 lead.

In the sixth, Murphy hit a home run that was originally ruled a double, and on the ensuing throw from rightfield, Sheffield was thrown out at the plate. The Mets stood to lose a lot, but the umpiring crew went the route of video replay, and the ball was ruled to be a home run.

Murphy added a two-run double in the seventh inning that made it 7-3, and went 3-for-4 with a run scored and five batted in. Sheffield remained red-hot with a 1-for-2 performance that included two RBIs and a run scored. Angel Pagan and Luis Castillo also got in on the action with two hits and two runs apiece.

In Santana's first seven starts this year, the Mets scored 15 runs, but in the last three, New York has scored 21.

After an off day, the Mets host the Florida Marlins for three games. Mike Pelfrey (4-1) faces Sean West in the opener.

Hernandez, Sheffield Lead Mets Past Nats

Author: Paul Zinn

In a very workmanlike effort, the Mets defeated the Nationals for the second straight game with a 6-1 victory at Citi Field tonight.

And the Mets' most workmanlike pitcher, Livan Hernandez, was the one who was on the mound and led the way, tossing a complete game. Herndandez allowed one run on nine hits in nine innings and improved to 4-1 with the victory.

The win improved New York to 25-20 on the season, and it wasn't until tonight, in the team's 46th game of the 2009 season, that a starting pitcher worked into the eighth inning.

Tuesday night's win also marked the Major League debut of rightfielder Fernando Martinez, the much-heralded Mets' prospect. Martinez's night was fairly uneventul. He struck out in the second and seventh innings, but did drive home a run in the third inning on a hard grounder to first on which Fernando Tatis was forced out at second. In Martinez's other at bat, he was hit by a pitch.

Two fly balls were hit Martinez's way in rightfield, and he made both plays.

Martinez's RBI made it 3-0 Mets. A pair of two-out doubles by Ramon Martinez and Omir Santos put New York ahead 1-0 in the second, and Tatis' run-scoring single in the third preceded Fernando Martinez's ground out.

Then, in the seventh frame, Gary Sheffield continued to make good on a signing many questioned earlier this year, when he drilled a three-run home to leftfield, his second of the series.

It was an important win for the depleted Mets, who were without Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado.

The bullpen had a much needed day off with Hernandez's complete-game, and they figure to get more rest tomorrow when the Mets go for the sweep with ace Johan Santana (6-2) on the mound. He will face the National's Jordan Zimmerman. An offday follows Thursday, so the bullpen could be in strong shape by the time the Marlins get to Citi Field this weekend.

Even without numerous starters, the Mets need to continue to take advantage of this part of their schedule. A road trip to Pittsburgh and Washington will follow the Marlins visit to Citi Field.

Church and Reyes to DL

Author: Victor Ladd

Today Omar Minaya told the press that Ryan Church and Jose Reyes have been placed on the 15 day DL.  20 year old top prospect Fernando Martinez and Wilson Valdez, an acquisition from Cleveland, he will be seen at Citi Field today.

Wilson Valdez, 31, was acquired from the Indians. He was hitting .198 with Triple-A team Columbus.

The acquisition was made as Valdez is "More of a defensive guy," as stated by GM Omar Minaya. "He's been around the game for a while."  Minaya added that the Mets had no regrets over the transaction.  

In addition, Jerry Manuel plans to use Martinez 6th in the lineup and in right field.

Boston Red Sox 12, New York Mets 5

Author: Will Hernandez

The Boston Red Sox scored nine runs in three innings to beat the Mets 12-5 and avoid the three-game sweep at Fenway Park. Despite the loss, injuries, and sweep by the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier in the week, the Mets finished the 10-game road trip with a 5-5 record. 

Tim Redding (0-1) picked up his first loss of the year, allowing six runs, all earned, on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings. The righthander seemed to be fighting himself at times and just ran out of gas in the bottom of the fifth inning.  

With the Mets leading 5-3, Redding allowed back-to-back two-out singles to J.D. Drew and Mike Lowell. George Kottaras followed with an RBI double that scored Drew and cut the Mets lead to 5-4. Sean Green replaced Redding and he promptly gave up a two-run single to Nick Green to put the Sox ahead 6-5. 

That was all the Sox needed as the Mets managed only one hit over the final four innings. Brian Stokes couldn’t keep the game close and allowed five runs on six hits in 1 1/3 innings. The big blow came in the seventh when Kevin Youkilis hit a two-out, three-run homer to give the Sox a 12-5 lead. Earlier in the game, Youkilis just missed hitting a solo home run, but it was determined to be foul and the umpires went to the instant replay. 

Tim Wakefield (6-2) didn’t have his best knuckleball working, but the Mets (23-20) failed to take advantage at key moments. 

Daniel Murphy and Angel Pagan started the game with a single and walk, respectively, but Carlos Beltran grounded into a 4-6-3 double play. Ramon Castro gave the Mets a 1-0 lead in the second when he launched a knuckleball high in the zone for a homer that hit off the leftfield foul pole. 

Boston (26-18) responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning when Lowell hit a three-run homer. But the Mets battled back with three runs in the third to take a 4-3 lead. Manuel used a little small ball in an American League park and had Pagan sacrifice with runners on first and second and none out. Beltran plated a run with an RBI groundout. After a Garry Sheffield walked, Wright and Jeremy Reed hit back-to-back, two-out RBI singles to give the Mets a 4-3 lead. Sheffield made it 5-4 in the fifth with an RBI single and that’s where the Mets offense stopped on the day. 

The Mets return to Citi Field Monday to open a three-game series against the Washington Nationals. John Maine gets the start against John Lannan. The Mets will open play trailing the Phillies by 1.5 games in the National League East. 
 

Mets Come Up With Clutch Win, 3-2

Author: Paul Zinn

Staring defeat in the face, the Mets overcame a one-run deficit against Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon and won a dramatic, 3-2, decision from the Red Sox tonight at Fenway Park.

New York's bats had been quiet all evening against Red Sox starter Josh Beckett, and, trailing 2-1, they didn't figure to come alive in the ninth against Papelbon, who had converted his last 16 save opportunities dating back to last year.

Gary Sheffield drew a leadoff walk against Papelbon, but the Boston closer looked dominant in striking out David Wright and Jeremy Reed. Down to their final out, none other than Omir Santos took Papelbon out of the park over the Green Monster for a two-run, game-winning home run.

It was initially ruled a double, but after video replay, it was clearly proven to be a home run. The round-tripper was Santos' second of the season, and he hit a 97 MPH pitch against Papelbon, just barely clearing the fence.

Until then, the Mets had done little if anything at the plate against Beckett. The Boston pitcher worked eight innings, allowing one run (unearned) on five hits, while walking one and striking out five.

The Mets (23-19) took an early lead when Carlos Beltran, after an infield single, reached the second sack on Beckett's error and then scored on Sheffield's single.

Mike Pelfrey (4-1) pitched for the Mets and was nearly as good as Beckett. The only runs he allowed were on a two-run single by Kevin Youkilis in the bottom half of the first.

Pelfrey pitched seven innings and gave up two runs on six hits. Pedro Feliciano (1-1) pitched the eighth for the win.

New York had runners on the corners and one out in the seventh, but Ramon Martinez struck out swinging, and Beckett got Luis Castillo to line out to center and end the threat with the tying run on third base.

After the Mets finally did tie it and take the lead, J.J. Putz, not Francisco Rodriguez, pitched the ninth for the save. After a leadoff walk to Youkilis, Wright made a great stop on Jason Bay's shot down the line and threw a one-hopper to Castillo to get the lead runner. Martinez's diving stop and throw to first to get Mile Lowell ended the game.

New York will go for the sweep tomorrow afternoon when Tim Redding makes his second start, facing Boston's knuckleballer Tim Wakefield (5-2).

Mets Snap Skid; Drop Red Sox, 5-3

Author: Paul Zinn

Desperately seeking a victory to snap a four-game losing streak, Johan Santana turned in another tremendous effort to lead the Mets (22-19) to a 5-3 victory over the Red Sox at Fenway Park last night on the first day of interleague play.

Perhaps most surprising is that Fenway Park is not a place that yields a lot of victories to deperate, reeling teams, particularly those that have stars like Carlos Delgado and Jose Reyes injured. Coming into last night, the Red Sox were a torrid 16-4 at home, and Fenway Park is a very difficult place for visiting teams.

But Santana (6-2) was terrific. He allowed three runs (two earned) in the first six innings, and with his pitch count over 100 already, Manager Jerry Manual made an uncharacteristic decision - leaving him in to face the heart of the Red Sox order in the seventh. And Santana mowed them down in order, striking out David Ortiz and Kevin Youkilis after inducing Dustin Pedroia to fly out.

All in all, Santana allowed three runs on seven hits while walking one and striking out eight. He threw 118 pitches.

His line could have been even better, had substituting short stop Ramon Martinez not booted Jason Varitek's hot grounder with runners on second and third and one out in the fourth. Both runs scored on the play, cutting the Mets lead to 4-3.

Gary Sheffield and Varitek exchanged homers earlier, before the Mets got run-scoring singles from David Wright, Omar Santos and Martinez in a three-run fourth inning against Red Sox starter Daisuke Matsuzaka that made it 4-1 New York.

It is clear the Mets need Reyes back as quickly as possible. Another Martinez error in the sixth put runners on second and third with one out, but Santana was up to the challenge, working out of the threat unscathed.

In total, the Mets made three errors.

After Santana finally exited, Bobby Parnell and Francisco Rodriguez worked perfect eighth and ninth innings, respectively. It was Rodriguez's 12th save of the season.

The series continues tonight when Mike Pelfrey (4-1) faces Josh Beckett (4-2).

If Reyes Goes On DL, What's Next?

Author: Will Sommer

Last night Jose Reyes left in the middle of the game because his calf was once again acting up. Assuming he goes on the DL, who shall replace him? Alex Cora is all ready on the DL, so obviously can't be him. Ramon Martinez who is way to over matched for the major leagues. The Mets internal options are not good. So if I had to make a prediction we will be seeing Mark DeRosa in a Mets uniform real soon. The Indians need pitching so if I were Omar Minaya I wouldn't trade Bobby Parnell, but I would trade Jon Niese and/or Dillon Gee. I think the Mets would only have to trade one of those two pitchers. I hope it's Niese. I think Gee has a higher ceiling. And maybe the Mets have to trade away a mid level prospect. We need DeRosa. He's a professional all around. He plays 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, RF, and LF. DeRosa is batting .255 this year, but has a .278 lifetime average. What's not to like? He is the perfect fit.