San Diego Padres vs. New York Mets Post Game Recap 5-26

Final Score: San Diego Padres: 0 New York Mets: 9

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Johan Santana turned in one of his vintage outings this afternoon at Citi Field as he dominated the Padres throwing a complete game shutout.  This was Santana’s first complete game since August 22^nd 2010 in Pittsburgh against the Pirates and his first complete game shutout since August 12^th 2010 against the Colorado Rockies. 

San Diego sports one of the weaker lineups in baseball, so Santana was able to take advantage.  He kept hitters off balance all afternoon as the Padres were only able to get one player into scoring position.  Very few balls were hit well, enabling Santana to breeze through innings on a very nice May afternoon in Queens.  This was easily Santana’s best start of the season as he surrendered only four hits and no walks, adding seven strikeouts.

Scoring has not been something the Mets have done in Santana starts this season; so the nine runs today was a welcomed surprise. Entering the game this afternoon, Santana had a 1-2 record despite a 3.24 ERA.  Their overall record is 4-5 in his starts, which is disappointing with how well he has pitched.  A great start to the season would be that much better if a couple of those stellar Santana outings were backed by some offense.

With the Padres pegging lefty Clayton Richard as their starter, Mets manager Terry Collins made a few tweaks to his lineup.  Collins decided to stack his lineup with right-handed batters and it proved effective on this afternoon.  Scott Hairston blasted a three-run homerun for his 4^th of the season in the first inning.  Two batters later, Vinny Rottino launched his first career homerun, staking the Mets to a dominant four run lead, never looking back.

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The Mets offense was quiet for the remainder of the afternoon until the 8^th inning, when catcher Mike Nickeas hit his first career grand slam and first homerun of the season.  Nickeas’ homerun, just like Hairston’s and Rottino’s earlier in the game, were aided by the new dimensions of Citi Field; which were put into place to make Citi Field more hitter-friendly. 

Today was the third game in a row in which Ike Davis knocked in a run.  Davis’ season long streak was continued with an RBI double in the 8^th which gave the Mets a 5-0 lead.  Since being told 4 games ago that he will not be demoted to Triple A Buffalo, Davis has gone 4-9.  He now has 20 R.B.I on the season and raised his average to a still uninspiring .173. 

David Wright walked and scored in the Mets four run first inning, but was hitless the remainder of the game.  His average has dipped to .390 after going 0-6 in his past two games. 

Ronny Cedeno was forced from the game in the 8^th inning because of an apparent leg injury.  It was later clarified that it was only a cramp that forced him from the game, and he should be good to go Sunday.  Cedeno returned two weeks ago from a left intercostal strain.

The Mets look to take three of four in the series Sunday afternoon as R.A. Dickey, 6-1 with a 3.45 ERA, pitches against Padres starting pitcher Edinson Volquez, 2-4 with a 3.49 ERA, at 1:10 P.M. ET.