Mets Finish Off Sweep of Marlins

Sunday, September 02, 2012

Final Score: New York Mets: 5 Miami Marlins: 1

Mets Finish Off Sweep of Marlins

With the 5-1 win Sunday afternoon, the Mets won their third straight series and seven of their last eight games.  They have moved to six games under .500 with a record of 64-70.  It was the first series sweep for the Mets since they took three straight from the Orioles June 18-20.  The Mets also swept the Marlins earlier in the season in April, but this is the first sweep on the road of the Marlins since 2007.  The Mets also improved their record in day games to 28-21 on the season.

Jason Bay enjoyed his best day of the season, going 2 for 4, driving in four runs thanks to a first inning grand slam.  The homerun was Bay’s first since August 16^th.

It was literally a month’s worth of production for Bay, who accumulated only one homerun and for RBI from August 3^rd through September 1st.

A key to the Mets recent success has been how well the bullpen has performed.  Saturday they had a 16 2/3 innings scoreless streak snapped, but got back to building a new one Sunday, as they threw four scoreless innings.  They have allowed one earned run in the past 22 2/3 innings.

The Mets bullpen has been a disaster all season, compiling a 15-25 record with a 4.83 ERA.  The Mets as a team are a disastrous 22-56 when a reliever allows a run.

A reason for the sweep this weekend against the Marlins was the Mets keeping Marlin slugger Giancarlo Stanton in check.  In the first two games of the series, Stanton went 2 for 8 with his only RBI coming on an infield hit.

That was a great success for Stanton compared to Sunday, as the Mets held Stanton hitless.  Stanton went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts Sunday afternoon, as the Mets held the Marlins most dangerous power hitter more than in check for the weekend.

Manager Terry Collins gave some insight into the Mets plans coming down the stretch of the season.  Zach Lutz is expected to get a start sometime this week at one of the corner infield spots; he is also being considered for instructional ball this winter to learn a corner outfield spot to increase his value and playing potential in the majors next season.  Collins also said that Matt Harvey will make two or three more starts before being shut down and that Zach Wheeler’s season is done as they do not want to increase his inning total any more.  Jenrry Mejia is expected to make some starts for the major league club in September though Collins said.

Next up for the Mets is a three game series against St. Louis starting Monday.  Collin McHugh (1-0, 0.00 ERA) will return to the team to make the start Monday afternoon against Joe Kelly (4-6, 3.61 ERA).

Johan Santana Shut Down For Season

Johan Santana Shut Down For Season

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 Mets starting pitcher Johan Santana is being placed on the 15-day DL, retroactive to August 18^th because of inflammation in his lower back.  Santana is not expected to pitch again this season according to General Manager Sandy Alderson.  Alderson is also adamant in saying that the shut down has nothing to do with Santana’s ankle or shoulder injuries he has suffered through this season.

“I’m very confident he’ll be back next season ready to go, hopefully in a stronger position coming into this season,” Alderson said.  “If you look back at this season and what we reasonably could’ve expected at the beginning of the year, he’s accomplished quite a lot.”

Santana’s back became a problem recently for him when it tightened up after his bullpen session on Monday afternoon.  Reoccurring back pain had been complained about by Santana since after his last start August 17^th against the Washington Nationals. 

Since throwing the first no hitter in Mets history June first and throwing a career high 134 pitches, Santana has compiled a 3-7 record with an 8.27 ERA in 10 starts, giving up six or more earned runs in his last five starts.

Right hander Collin McHugh will be promoted from Triple-A Buffalo to replace Santana.  McHugh, 25, has a 2-4 record with a 3.39 ERA in 12 starts for the Bison.  There had been rumors of Jenrry Mejia coming up for the start, but the Mets instead opted to go with McHugh.