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 6-29

Final Score: New York Mets: 9 Los Angeles Dodgers: 0

The Mets continued their winning streak tonight against the Los Angeles Dodgers, shutting them out 9-0.

After a rough start against the Yankees over the weekend, R.A. Dickey got back to business, tossing another 8 shutout innings brining his season totals to a record of 12-1 with a 2.15 ERA.  In the game tonight Dickey allowed only three hits and one walk while striking out 10 Dodgers. 

With tonight’s win, Dickey won his career high 10^th straight decision and the MLB’s first 12 game winner.  Reaching double digit strikeout totals for the 5^th time this season also places Dickey first in that category.  Dickey finishes June better than he did May, going 5-0 with a 0.93 ERA.

In addition to Dickey having a great day on the mound, a few other players stood out as well.

Daniel Murphy went deep yet again for the Mets, his third of season.  Murphy has been on a power surge lately, hitting three homeruns this week after going all season without one.  Murphy also knocked in a career high tying five RBI’s tonight.

Murphy was not the only Met player to tie a career high, as Reuben Tejada joined him for that distinction tonight.  Tejada reached base a career high five times, getting on base in a number of different ways.  He went 4-5 from the plate and was also hit by a pitch, scoring two runs.

Lucas Duda was able to snap out of his funk tonight, ending an 0-15 drought with an RBI single in fifth inning.  Ike Davis was also able to add an RBI on a sacrifice fly in the 1^st inning, ending the game 1-4 with a season batting average of .198.

The Mets will look to take the four game series and win their fourth game in a row Saturday night when Johan Santana (5-4 3.00 ERA) takes the mound for the Mets against Nathan Eovaldi (0-4 4.04 ERA) of the Dodgers.