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).

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).

New York Mets vs Los Angeles Dodgers Post Game Recap 7-1

Final Score: New York Mets: 3 Los Angeles Dodgers: 8

The Mets were unable to pull of the sweep of the Dodgers, falling 8-3 on Sunday Night Baseball. Sloppy fielding and poor play overall played a part in the squandering of a 2-0 early lead.  Behind a strong performance from All-Star and reigning MVP Clayton Kershaw and three Mets errors, the Dodgers salvaged the last game of the series.

Errors by second baseman Ronny Cedeno and first baseman Justin Turner led to the first two Dodger runs to tie the score.  The Dodgers, who had been shut out in five of their last six games, will take runs in any way possible. 

The next inning, the Dodgers were able to manufacture another run, giving them their first lead in 66 innings before Juan Rivera touched home plate in the 6^th inning on a James Loney groundout.

The Mets were only trailing by one run at that point, but more sloppy play in the 7^th inning blew the game open making it a laugher.  Miguel Batista entered the game with one out after relievers Ramon Ramirez and Justin Hampson loaded the bases.

Batista was able to cause a come-backer, but catcher Mike Nickeas missed the ball and was charged with an error. Instead of having an inning ending double play, the Mets deficit was expanded.  The Dodgers would add two more runs before the inning ended, making for an 8-3 lead.

Overall, the Mets finished their road trip 4-3, a good record when you consider how poorly the trip had started.  The Mets can be confident in themselves heading back to Queens for a series against the Philadelphia Phillies and Miami Marlins heading into the All-Star break.

After an off day on Monday, the Mets will be back at it Tuesday against the Phillies. Jon Niese (6-3 3.55 ERA) is expected to take the mound for the Mets against Vance Worley (4-4 2.92 ERA) of the Phillies.