The Mets defeated the Astros by the score of 3-1 at Minute Maid Park tonight. As Gary Cohen said during tonight's broadcast on SNY, it's like watching the same game everyday. The Mets get brilliant starting pitching, score 1 run early, and then hope to score another run before the opposition does so.
The Mets got on the board first tonight, when Carlos Beltran lined his 2nd HR of the year over the short LF wall, giving the Mets a 1-0 lead.
In the Bot of the 6th the Astros broke even. With 2 out and nobody on, Jason Michaels hit what seemed to be a harmless single to center, but Chris Johnson would then follow up Michaels' 1B with a double to right-centerfield, scoring Michaels all the way from first base, to tie the game at 1-1.
The Astros threatened in the Bot of the 8th. With two on and two out. Pedro Feliciano got a check swing groundball from Brett Wallace back to the box. He thought he fielded it and started running towards first base, but then realized that he didn't have the ball allowing Wallace to reach safely. This loaded the bases for rookie C Jason Castro. Castro drove a ball to deep left-centerfield but Carlos Beltran was able to track it down to end the inning.
The Mets finally broke through in th Top of the 9th to break the tie. David Wright got the rally started with a line drive single up the middle. Carlos Beltran would then follow with a single of his own to RF, advancing Wright to 3rd, and putting runners at the corners. With Jeff Francoeur at the plate, pitcher Matt Lindstrom would throw a wild pitch scoring Wright from 3rd to give the Mets a 2-1 lead. Then, after fouling several pitches off, Francoeur drilled a 96 MPH fastball to the LF gap scoring Beltran from 2nd, extending the lead to 3-1. After an IBB to PH Ike Davis, the Manager of the Astros Brad Mills brought LHP Gustavo Chacin in to face PH Josh Thole. Thole hit a hard groundball to 1B. Brett Wallace would tag the base and then throw home doubling up Jeff Francoeur at the plate in what looked to be a questionable call to end the inning.
Hisanori Takahashi came on to pitch the Bot of the 9th in place of injured Francisco Rodriguez. Takahashi was able to retire the side 1-2-3 to earn the save.
The starting pitching for the Mets was brilliant once again. This time it was Jon Niese. Niese was fantastic tonight. His curveball was really fooling the opposing hitters all night long. This was his third straight start of 7IP of 1 Run ball with nothing to show for it. However, unlike his last two starts, the Mets were able to win the game. Niese finished with a line of 7Ip, 1 ER, 7 Hits, 0BB, and 5 K. His ERA is now down to a very good 3.38 on the year.
It was nice to see both David Wright and Carlos Beltran have good nights at the plate. Not only did they both have multiple hit games, they had clutch hits that contributed to the Mets 3 runs tonight. Wright finished 3-4 with a run scored and a SB. Beltran went 2-3 with a BB, HR, RBI, and two runs scored.
Hisanori Takahashi came on in place of the now injured Francisco Rodriguez to record his first major league save, pitching a 1-2-3 9th inning to end the game.
Tonight was the first Mets win to begin a road series since June 18th VS the Yankees.
Game 2 of the 4 game series will be tomorrow night. LHP Johan Santana will start for the Mets and be opposed by former Met Nelson Figueroa. Game time is 8:05PM at Minute Maid Park.
No comments:
Post a Comment