Mets Drop Last Game of West Coast Trip

Sunday August 5^th, 2012

Final Score: New York Mets: 3 San Diego Padres: 7

Mets Drop Last Game of West Coast Trip

The Mets had a disappointing end to what was an overall positive west coast trip, ending with a loss to the San Diego Padres 7-3 Sunday afternoon.  Even with the loss to the end the trip, the Mets will head home with a 6-5 record out west against the Arizona Diamondbacks, San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres.

Matt Harvey had a strong start to the road trip winning in Arizona for his first career win, but did not have as positive outcome this time around.  Harvey has a promising career ahead of him, but will undoubtedly have his rough patches like this afternoon.

Harvey had a rough afternoon, surrendering two two-run homeruns in spacious Petco Park.  Chase Headley in the first inning and Yonder Alonso in the third were able to tag Harvey for homers, making Harvey only the second visiting pitcher this season to surrender multiple homers in a game. 

Harvey’s final line was uninspiring ending with five innings pitched, eight hits, five runs, one walk and five strikeouts on 81 pitches.  If not for the trouble with the long ball, Harvey’s stat line looks much more promising.

The only noise made by the Mets offense this afternoon was from Ronny Cedeno, who hit a pinch hit two- run homerun off Jason Marquis in the 6^th inning after coming on for Harvey.  Marquis had a strong game for the Padres, retiring 14 batters after allowing a leadoff single to start the game. 

Jason Bay had a sacrifice fly in the 7^th inning to bring the Mets within two runs, but again was hitless at the plate.  Bay finished the road trip going 2-for-31, good for a .065 batting average.  Bay should be in the lineup Tuesday night against a lefty but should expect to see his playing time diminish and dwindle as the season winds down. 

Next up for the Mets, after a day off on Monday, is a three game series with Jose Reyes and the Miami Marlins at Citi Field.  Reyes will bring a major league season high 24 game hitting streak with him.  Jon Niese (8-5, 3.72 ERA) will take the mound for the Mets in opener and be opposed by Marlins starter Wade LeBlanc (1-1, 1.35 ERA).  By game time Tuesday, the Mets should also have better assessments on the extent of the injuries to Tim Byrdak and Kirk Nieuwenhuis.   

Mets Split Series with Dbacks

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Mets vs. Diamondbacks Post Game Recap 7/29

The New York Mets were able to split the four game series with the Diamondbacks winning on Sunday by a score of 5-1, as it is the Mets third win in the last 17 games.

R.A Dickey who has had a tough month of July finished it strong picking up his 14th win of the season. Dickey went 7 innings allowing four hits, three walks, one run, and had eight strikeouts.

The 8th and 9th innings that are, usually a heart attack waiting to happen for Mets fans went rather smoothly, as Jon Rauch pitched a 1-2-3 8th inning, and Bobby Parnell only allowed one walk in the ninth to close the door in a non-save situation.

David Wright was able to lead the Mets offense going 1 for 3 hitting his 31st double of the season, scoring two runs, knocking in a RBI, walking twice, and stealing his 11th base of the season.

Scott Hairston also had a good game like Wright, as Hairston went 2 for 5 hitting his 17th double of the season, and had two RBIs.

After probably his best game of the year going 4-4 with three homeruns Ike Davis went 0 for 5 with three strikeouts on Sunday.

Jason Bay continued to be absolutely awful going 0 for 3 seeing his batting average drop to less than .160, and is now hitless in his last 22 at-bats.

The Mets will be heading to San Francisco to start another four game series, as Jeremy Hefner (1-4, 5.40) will face Madison Bumgarner (11-6, 3.10).

Mets Lose Despite Monster Day from Davis

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Mets vs. Diamondbacks Post Game Recap 7/28

The New York Mets lost their second straight game in the series with the Diamondbacks losing on Saturday by a score of 6-3.

For the second straight game the Mets didn’t get what they needed from the starting pitcher, as Chris Young like Niese the day before struggled against the Diamondbacks. Young went only four innings while allowing all six runs on seven hits, and two walks.

One bright spot for the Mets in the loss was that the bullpen did pitch great in their four innings. Ramon Ramirez, Manny Acosta, and Josh Edgin combined to pitch the final four scoreless innings after the short start from Young only allowing one hit as well.

The Mets offense was carried by Ike Davis who hit three solo homeruns in the game giving him 20 now for the season. The homeruns for Davis came in the 2nd, 4th, and 6th innings all off Ian Kennedy, and two of the homeruns by Davis in the 2nd and 4th innings went over 430ft to center field.

The only other Met to do much at the plate was Ruben Tejada who went 2 for 4 with a walk, and is batting .319 no for the season.

The Mets as a team had a tough time making contact in general striking out 15 times against Diamondbacks pitchers in the game.

R.A Dickey (13-3, 2.97) will face Joe Saunders (5-6, 3.51) as the Mets look to split the four game series with the Diamondbacks.

Niese Unable to Handle the Desert Heat

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Mets vs. Diamondbacks Post Game Recap 7/27

The Mets were unable to build momentum after a great debut from Matt Harvey on Thursday the Mets lost 11-5 on Friday.

Jon Niese had one of the worst starts of his career giving up eight runs matching his career high. Niese went six innings allowing nine hits, one walk, eight runs six of which were earned due to a throwing error by Niese. The loss moves Niese to (7-5) for the season.

Elvin Ramirez also had a tough time in his one inning of work allowing four hits, and three earned runs in the 7th inning.

Ike Davis was able to go 1 for 4 while hitting his 17th homerun in the 2nd inning of Josh Collmenter.

David Wright was the big run producer for the Mets hitting a three-run shot in the 3rd inning for his 16th homerun of the season, and brings his RBI total to 70.

Leadoff hitter Ruben Tejada continued his good hitting this season going 2 for 5, and scoring a run.

The Mets will look to bounce back on Saturday as Chris Young (2-4, 3.91) will face Ian Kennedy (8-8, 4.20).

Mets Win as Harvey Shines

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Mets vs Diamondback Post Game Recap 7/26

The Mets were able to snap their 6 game losing streak by beating the Diamondbacks 3-1 with a great start from Matt Harvey.

Making his MLB debut 23 year old Matt Harvey was exactly what the doctor ordered for the Mets to snap their losing streak, as they look to try and move back to the .500 mark. Harvey set a Mets franchise record in strikeouts with 11 breaking Tom Seavers previous record. The young right hander would go 5.1 scoreless innings while only allowing three hits, and three walks in his debut.

Jon Rauch gave up the only run of the game for the Mets in the 8^th inning, as Justin Upton hit a sac-fly scoring Jason Kubel.

Mets closer Bobby Parnell was able to get his 3^rd save of the season despite making things interesting in the 9^th inning by allowing two walks, but did have an impressive three strikeouts in the inning.

Lead-off hitter Ruben Tejada was able to reach base safely three times going 2 for 4 with a walk, and scoring a run.

Scott Hairston had the biggest night of any Mets hitters going 3 for 4 with two doubles, and two RBIs continuing his great hitting against lefty pitchers.

Struggling Andres Torres was able to snap out of his 0-17 drought going 2 for 3 hitting his third triple of the year, and scoring a run.

Matt Harvey showed off his hitting skills as well going 2 for 2 off All-Star Wade Miley including a double capping off his great major league debut.

The Mets will look to get a little winning streak going by sending Jon Niese (7-4, 3.59) to face Josh Collmenter (2-2, 3.82).

Top Mets Prospect to Make Debut Thursday

Mets Top Prospect Matt Harvey to Make Debut

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The New York Mets season is quickly falling apart, losing nine of ten games since the All-Star break and seeing their record drop under .500 for the first time all season to 47-48.

Help is on the way in the form of top prospect Matt Harvey.  Harvey will be in New York Monday and will be activated to the roster Tuesday.

Harvey will make his MLB debut Thursday night in Arizona against the Diamondbacks, the first game of a 10 game west coast trip for the Mets. 

Harvey, 23, has a 7-5 record with a 3.68 ERA this season pitching for Triple-A Buffalo.  He also has 112 strikeouts in his 110 innings of work. 

Harvey was the Mets first round pick in 2010 and will replace Miguel Batista, who was designated for assignment over the weekend, in the rotation for the foreseeable future.