Mets Take Series Opener Behind Davis and Dickey

Friday, August 31^st 2012

Final Score: New York Mets: 3 Miami Marlins: 0

Ike Davis and R.A. Dickey Power Mets to Victory

The good play of the Mets continued Friday night in their series opener against the Miami Marlins, as they took the opener 3-0.  Not much offense was provided by the Mets in the game tonight, but it was not needed as R.A. Dickey dominated the Marlins for his third shutout of the season.

The great performance by Dickey tonight gives him 17 on the season, tying him for the major league lead with Cincinnati Reds’ Johnny Cueto and Washington Nationals’ Gio Gonzalez, who also got his 17^th win tonight.

Dickey threw a complete game shutout tonight, giving him five complete games on the season; that is the most complete games in a season for a Mets pitcher since Dwight Gooden in 1993. 

                                                                                                                       

Dickey was helped out by a move made pre-game by manager Terry Collins, as he inserted Florida native Andres Torres into the starting lineup in centerfield for the game.  Collins cited the spacious outfield at Marlins Park for the move, and it paid off as Torres made a good play with a runner on first and no outs in the eighth inning as the Mets were trying to preserve the shutout and win for Dickey.

On the night, Dickey gave up five hits and three walks to go along with seven strikeouts.  Dickey improved his season totals to a 17-4 record with a 2.63 ERA.

Ike Davis provided all of the offensive fire power at the plate tonight for the Mets, accounting for all three of the RBI’s.  Davis got the Mets on the board in the 4^th inning, hitting a sacrifice fly that scored Ruben Tejada.  Tejada deserves as much credit as Davis for getting the run across the plate, as his aggressive and smart base running put him in position to score on something other than a base hit.

Davis would add the finishing touches in the 7^th inning, launching his 18^th road homerun of the season and 25^th overall on the season.  Davis planted the homerun in the upper-deck in right field.  His 18 road homers are the most in the National League and the 25 are just adding to his career high. 

Jose Reyes went hitless in the game tonight, something that Met fans will undoubtedly take pleasure in as there are still some hostile feelings towards Reyes after he left this past off-season. 

For all of the futility the Mets have faced recently, they have actually been pretty successful on the road.  They have accrued a 73-70 record on the road under Collins, something that should be built off of.  If the Mets can continue to play at or above .500 on the road and excel at home, success should follow soon after.

Next up for the Mets and Marlins is a Saturday night game at 7:10 P.M. ET.  Jeremy Hefner (2-5, 4.65 ERA) will take the mound against Josh Johnson (7-11, 4.00 ERA).

Mets Salvage Last Game of Series vs. Marlins

Thursday, August 9^th, 2012

Final Score: Miami Marlins: 1 New York Mets: 6

Mets Salvage Final Game of Series vs. Marlins

The Mets were finally able to end their losing streak at Citi Field Thursday afternoon, defeating the Marlins 6-1.  This was the first win for the Mets at home since July 7^th against the Chicago Cubs and ended the eight game losing streak they were on at home.  The losing streak matched the sixth longest one in Mets franchise history. 

R.A. Dickey pitched like the ace he has been all season, throwing a masterful complete game.  It was the fourth complete game on the season for Dickey.  The only blemish for him was a solo homerun given up in the fourth inning to Justin Ruggiano. 

Dickey surrendered only five hits resulting in the one earned run with no walks and 10 strikeouts.  It was Dickey’s sixth double digit strikeout game of the season, giving him 166 strikeouts on the season against only 36 walks. 

Dickey is looking to become the first 20 game winner for the Mets since Frank Viola in 1990, notching his 15^th win of the season this afternoon, tying him with Jered Weaver for the MLB lead.  Dickey, even with the Mets struggles, is right in the hunt for the NL Cy Young award also with a 15-3 record and 2.72 ERA.

For the Mets at the plate Andres Torres shined.  Torres finished the game 3 for 3 with a walk, finishing a single short of hitting for the cycle.  Multiple Mets also had multi-hit games, with David Wright, Mike Baxter, and Josh Thole.

Ruben Tejada was also able to add two hits, upping his hitting streak to a career high 14 games.

The Mets were able to cool of Jose Reyes, who had his 26 game hitting streak ended Thursday afternoon.  Reyes also made a blunder in the field in the 4^th inning that enabled the Mets to retake the lead for good.

Next up for the Mets is a series against the rival Atlanta Braves.  Matt Harvey (1-2, 3.86 ERA) will be making his Citi Field debut against newly acquired Paul Maholm (9-7 3.75 ERA). 

Marlins Wipe the Floor with Mets

Wednesday, August 8^th, 2012

Final Score: Miami Marlins: 13 New York Mets: 0

Marlins Wipe Floor with Mets

It was an ugly night at Citi Field for the Mets as the Marlins jumped out early and often en route to a 13-0 beat down.  The Mets just cannot buy a win at home right now, losing their eighth straight game at Citi Field since the All-Star break and ninth overall.  The last win at home for the Mets came all the way back on July 7^th against the Chicago Cubs.  The current home losing streak is the longest for the Mets since 2004, Art Howe’s last season as manager.  The Mets now sit at 53-58, 15 games behind Washington in the NL East and 10.5 games behind Atlanta for the last wild card spot. 

Chris Young was hammered tonight coming off what was his best start of the season.  The Marlins jumped on Young early and often, teeing off on him, including three homeruns.  The third homerun is what chased him from the game. 

Jose Reyes launched his eighth homerun of the season in the first inning to get the scoring started for the Marlins.  Giancarlo Stanton would hit the next two off Young, a two run shot in the first inning and another two run shot in the fifth inning. 

Young lasted only 4 1/3 innings in the game, unable to build off his strong performance in San Francisco last week.  He finished the game with totals of seven hits, seven runs, three walks and four strikeouts. 

The Marlins did not stay quite for long, as they put up another four spot in the eighth inning and a two spot in the ninth.  Lefty Garrett Olson was making his Mets debut and fit in perfectly with the bullpen giving up four earned runs in 1/3 inning. 

Closer Frank Francisco came in for the ninth inning to get some work in and continued the woeful pitching surrendering a two-run homerun to Greg Dobbs.

The Mets were able to only muster five hits off the Marlins pitching staff.  They were not without opportunities to score though, as the Marlins walked six Mets, giving them opportunities to make things happen; the Mets just were unable to take advantage.

One positive for the Mets was that Ruben Tejada continued his hitting streak with a single in the third inning, putting the streak at 13 games.  Reyes also continued his streak for the Marlins, getting his up to 26 games.  The 26 game hitting streak for Reyes is a career high for him and a high in the majors this season. 

Next up is the finale of the three game series in a Thursday matinee at 12:10 P.M. ET.  R.A. Dickey (14-3, 2.82 ERA) will take the mound for the Mets as they try to salvage the last game of the series against the Marlins’ Josh Johnson (7-7 3.85 ERA). 

Mets Drop Series Opener Against Marlins

Tuesday August 7^th, 2012

Final Score: Miami Marlins: 4 New York Mets: 2

Mets Drop Series Opener to Marlins

The return home for the Mets from an 11 game road trip did not go as hoped, as the Mets fell to the Marlins 4-2.  The loss makes it eight home defeats in a row, leaving the Mets winless at Citi Field since the All-Star break.  The Mets are falling further below .500 and after coming into the second half with high expectations now sit only three games ahead of the cellar in the National League East division. 

Jon Niese entered the game with underwhelming stats against the Marlins in his career; Tuesday did nothing to change that.  Entering the game, Niese had eight career starts against the Marlins with a 1-4 record and 4.47 ERA. 

Tonight Niese suffered from another rough inning, giving up all four runs in the fourth inning.  Even outside the rough inning Niese struggled some, giving up eight hits and a walk along with four strikeouts and the four earned runs in six innings.

Avoiding the big inning has been a season long problem for Niese.  In each of his last three starts he surrendered four runs or more, he allowed big innings of three or more runs at least once.  If Niese can control the big inning and limit the damage, it would go along way for his own stats and the Mets.

The exiling of Jason Bay is also underway.  In the midst of a 2 for 31 slump, Bay has been relegated to strictly a platoon role.  Bay will see time only against lefties and will have to work out of this slump with side work.  He endures heavy booing from the Mets faithful, which is rightfully deserved with the dreaded season he is having.  Bay is lucky at this point to even be a part of the roster; if he wasn’t getting paid the contract he was he would already be off the team.

The lengthy hitting streaks of both teams’ shortstops were also extended tonight.  Jose Reyes extended his streak to an MLB season high of 25 and Ruben Tejada extended his to 12.  Tejada has filled in well for Reyes, who was again booed heavily in his second return to Citi Field.

Next up for the Mets and Marlins is a Wednesday night affair with Chris Young (3-5, 4.22 ERA) taking the mound for the Mets against the Marlins’ Nathan Eovaldi (2-7, 4.66 ERA).

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.