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.   

Hefner Performs Well in Spot Start for Mets

Saturday, August 4^th, 2012

Final Score: New York Mets: 6 San Diego Padres: 2

Hefner Performs Well in Spot Start

The Mets offense was able to wake up some Saturday night, scoring six runs in defeating the Padres 6-2.  The Mets move one game closer to .500 with the win tonight and sit with a record of 53-55 after tonight’s victory.  A strong performance from spot starter Jeremy Hefner not only earned him a spot on the major league roster for the time being but a much needed victory for the Mets.

Hefner threw a strong game for the Mets against his old team in the Padres.  He allowed the first batter to get on, but erased him with a double play on the next at-bat.  Hefner ultimately would allow only one run in six innings, surrendering only five hits and no walks to go along with two strikeouts.  One thing that stood out in Hefner’s start was that it took him only 74 pitches to get through the six innings. 

With Johan Santana expected to return from the DL next weekend, Hefner will be moved back to the bullpen according to manager Terry Collins.  Hefner’s performance tonight saved him from a demotion and showed how valuable he could be for the Mets organization. 

The Mets did a lot of their damage tonight in the 2^nd inning, scoring four of their six runs in the inning thanks to an erratic performance from Edinson Volquez.  Volquez managed to get through only 1 2/3 innings, giving up two hits and four walks, resulting in four earned runs while also striking out three.

Two of Volquez’s four walks on the night forced in runs in the 2^nd inning, which was highlighted by a two-RBI double by Jordany Valdespin.  Valdespin had been struggling on the road trip before the at-bat, going only 3 for 23.

Daniel Murphy had another strong performance tonight, going 4 for 4 at the plate for the Mets, also adding a walk.

Mike Baxter had a record tying night at the plate for the Mets as well without recording an at-bat.  Baxter walked five times tonight, which is the first time a player has accomplished that feat since 2006 when Ryan Howard did it for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Josh Edgin, the only lefty currently in the bullpen with Tim Byrdak landing on the DL with an injury to his shoulder, tossed a shutout 7^th inning despite an error from Ruben Tejada.  Edgin then tossed a second shutout inning, even after manager Terry Collins said he would be conscious of not over-using Egdin in Brydak’s absence.

Bobby Parnell came into the game in the 9^th inning and imploded giving up a leadoff homerun to Chase Headley followed by a double by Yonder Alonso.  He was relieved by Frank Francisco, who was making his first appearance since coming off the DL.  Francisco was able to close out the game without allowing another base runner, stranding Alonso on base.

The Mets will head into the finale in San Diego looking to win their second series in a row.  They have already clinched a winning road trip, which is a positive sign after such an awful start to the second half.  Matt Harvey (1-1, 1.59 ERA) will make his third career start against Jason Marquis (4-6, 4.08 ERA).

Mets Drop Series Opener in San Diego

Friday, August 3^rd, 2012

Final Score: New York Mets: 1 San Diego Padres: 3

Mets Drop Opener in San Diego

After exploding for nine runs against the Giants yesterday afternoon, the Mets struggled to get anything going tonight, falling to the Padres 3-1. Tonight was another tough luck loss for the Mets who are clawing to get back to the .500 mark and stay in the playoff race. 

R.A. Dickey had a strong performance tonight, but was let down by his offense.  Dickey held the Padres hitless until Yonder Alonso’s single in the 5^th inning and didn’t allow a run until the 6^th inning. 

In the 7^th inning he allowed a one-out single to Carlos Quentin, which was followed up by an Alonso double that barely evaded a diving Scott Hairston.  Quentin attempted to score all the way from first and looked to be dead to rights as he was several steps away from the plate as catcher Josh Thole was receiving the relay throw from Ronny Cedeno. 

Disappointingly for the Mets, Thole dropped the ball as it was dislodged when Quentin came in hard and strong.  Thole was charged with an error on the play for not holding onto the baseball.  Alonso would score shortly after on a single by John Baker, who was the next batter. 

Thole had suffered a concussion earlier in the season, which likely was his fourth of his baseball career, in Philadelphia on May 7^th courtesy of Ty Wigginton.  Injuries like that can cause a player to become more cautious around the plate when it comes to collisions.

Dickey would be pulled for a pinch-hitter in the next half inning, ending his night with a stat line of seven innings pitched, four hits and three walks resulting in three runs, two of which were earned, and nine strikeouts. 

The Mets lone run of the night came courtesy of a Ronny Cedeno RBI single on an infield hit that plated David Wright.

The Mets were able to get the first two men on in the 8^th inning thanks to back-to-back singles by Cedeno and pinch-hitter Justin Turner.  Nothing came from the strong start, as Luke Gregerson struck out Andres Torres and David Wright; which was followed by Padres closer Houston Street entering and retiring pinch-hitter Jordany Valdespin on a groundout to second base. 

Next up in the second game in the series between the Mets and Padres is a match-up between Jeremy Hefner (1-4, 5.52 ERA) and Edison Volquez (7-7, 3.51 ERA).