Mets Comeback Falls Short, Lose to Cubs 7/6

Final Score: Chicago Cubs: 8 New York Mets: 7

The Mets mounted a valiant comeback tonight at Citi Field, but in the end were not able to finish it, falling to the lowly Cubs 8-7.

Starting pitcher Johan Santana had a rough outing, giving up seven earned runs on a career high tying 13 hits in only 4 2/3 innings.  He was able to strike out six Cubs without walking a batter.  Santana may have also suffered an ankle injury in the 5^th inning when he was unable to corral a toss from first baseman Justin Turner and was stepped on by Reed Johnson.

Three of the 13 hits that Santana surrendered were homeruns, giving up one to Cubs right fielder Reed Johnson to lead off the game then homeruns to Anthony Rizzo and Jeff Baker in the 5^th before being taken out of the game.  In Santana’s previous three starts he had allowed only two earned runs in 20 innings.

Reed Johnson and Anthony Rizzo each had four hits for the Cubs, leading the offensive push for the team. 

The bullpen again was able to pitch well for the Mets, giving up only one run in four innings.  They were able to keep the game within reach for the offense to mount almost mount an improbable comeback.

In the 9^th inning, the Mets were able to get things going against Cubs closer Carlos Marmol.  After striking out Kirk Nieuwenhuis to start the inning, Marmol surrendered a homerun to pinch hitter Jordany Valdespin.  He then would walk the next three batters in Ruben Tejada, Daniel Murphy and David Wright to load the bases.  Ike Davis pinch hit for Scott Hairston and was able to deliver a two-RBI single.  Lucas Duda was up next and ripped a hard line drive up the middle but it was snagged by Marmol who doubled Davis off first base, ending the Mets comeback.

Duda was able to get the Mets scoring started earlier in the game, blasting his 12^th homerun of the season in the 2^nd inning off Cubs starter Travis Wood. 

Justin Turner also hit the ball well for the Mets tonight, getting a career high tying four hits in the game, knocking in an RBI with a single in the 8^th inning. 

The Mets record this season against left-handed pitchers drops to 12-20 after Wells was able to get the quality start tonight.

The Mets and Cubs will get back at it tomorrow afternoon at 4:15 P.M. ET.  Dillon Gee (5-7 4.34 ERA) will toe the rubber for the Mets against former Notre Dame wide receiver and Cubs starter Jeff Samardzija (6-7 4.77 ERA).

Mets Win Series Against Phillies in Dramatic Fashion

Final Score: Philadelphia Phillies: 5 New York Mets: 6

In very dramatic fashion, the Mets were able to knock off the Phillies tonight 6-5 thanks to a David Wright walk off.  This was a win that even Yankee fans could smile at, as Jonathan Papelbon imploded in the 9^th inning blowing his second save of the season and suffering his third loss.

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 David Wright had a big night for the Mets, finishing it off with a walk off single in the 9^th inning.  Wright finished the night 3-5, including a two run homerun in the 5^th inning off Phillies starting pitcher Cole Hamels.  Wright had his first RBI on a single in the 3^rd inning and his fourth on the walk off.

Daniel Murphy continues to swing a hot bat, going 2-5 and knocking in the game tying RBI in the 9^th inning.

Ruben Tejada also continued his hot hitting at the plate, going 1-4 and scoring a run.

Scott Hairston also continues to slaughter left handed pitching.  Hairston knocked out his 12^th homerun of the year and ninth against a lefty.  It was his fifth career homerun against Cole Hamels.

R.A. Dickey did not have his best performance on the mound tonight, but the Mets offense was able to bail him out and take him off the hook.  Dickey finished the night tossing seven innings, giving up a career high tying 11 hits in the process and five earned runs.  He also struck out seven Phillies compared to one walk.  

Another bright spot for the Mets tonight was their bullpen.  After imploding Wednesday afternoon, they were able to hold the Phillies scoreless in the 8^th and 9^th innings. 

Next up for the Amazin’s is a series against the Chicago Cubs at Citi Field.  The first game of the series Friday night will pit the Mets Johan Santana (6-4 2.76) against the Cubs Travis Wood (3-3 3.05 ERA). 

New York Mets vs. Chicago Cubs Post Game Recap 6-25

Final Score: New York Mets:1 Chicago Cubs: 6

Mets manager Terry Collins let his players know how he felt about their play recently, calling it admirable because the Mets just ended a streak of eight straight series against teams with win.  What Collins feared most, a letdown by his team, may be starting to materialize after a very lackluster performance against the Chicago Cubs, owners of the worst record in the MLB.

The Mets were able to only muster six hits against the Cubs with shortstop Ronny Cedeno and Mike Nickeas each getting two apiece.  It took the Mets until the 9^th inning to even score their run as it came on Ike Davis’s 9^th homerun of the season. 

The Mets were also very sloppy in the field, committing three errors, all of which came in a disastrous 7^th inning when the wheels really fell off for the Mets.   

Johan Santana pitched admirably for the Mets, by once again was let down by a lack of offense.  Santana pitched six innings, giving up two earned runs on five hits and three walks while striking out six.

The big blow for the Cubs came in the 4^th inning when Joe Mather launched a 2-run homerun off Santana after he issued a two out walk to Cubs catcher Geovany Soto.

The Mets bullpen had a comeback and debut tonight.  The comeback was made by Ramon Ramirez, who was returning off the DL from a strained right hamstring, had a rough outing allowing both of his inherited runners to score in the 7^th inning.  The debut was made by Justin Hampson, who was called up from Triple-A Buffalo to be paired with Tim Byrdak as lefties in the Mets bullpen.  Hampson surrendered a two out triple to Reed Johnson, was able to get out of the inning unscathed, also recording a strikeout.

Travis Wood pitched seven innings of shutout ball for the Cubs, giving up five hits and only walking one batter while adding six strikeouts.

Up next for the Mets is the middle game of their series against the Cubs.  Dillon Gee (5-5 4.27 ERA) will take the mound for the Mets while right-hander Randy Wells (1-2 4.91 ERA) will take the mound for the Cubs.