Blue Team Is Go!
The New York Mets used a balanced offensive attack combined with their opponent’s defensive ineptitude to take a 6-2 lead and then hung on despite some shaky relief pitching from Bobby Parnell and Francisco Rodriguez to beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-4. Mike Pelfrey (5-2) got the win and Rodriguez (17) recorded the save, overcoming two 9th inning walks including one that forced in a run.
Brian Roberts
Three of the runs that the Mets scored were unearned, thanks in no small part to Orioles 2nd baseman Brian Roberts. In a scoreless game Fernando Martinez led off the 4th inning with a walk. The next batter Carlos Beltran hit a sharp ground ball right at Roberts for a likely double play, but Roberts muffed it for an error and the Mets had two runners on with none out. David Wright then singled to left scoring Martinez. O’s left fielder Nolan Reimold’s attempt to throw out Martinez out at the plate went wide and Beltran moved to 3rd base on the error. Ryan Church came to bat next and singled Beltran home. Gary Sheffield then singled to load the bases, after which Daniel Murphy’s sacrifice fly to deep right scored Wright. Brian Schneider rounded out the scoring that inning with a single to drive in Church.
The Mets scored their final two runs in the 7th inning on another bad play by Roberts. With runners on 1st and 2nd, Beltran lofted a pop fly down the 1st base line that in the opinion of many should have been fielded by Roberts, but he stayed out of the play and Aubrey Huff attempted an over-the-shoulder catch which failed, allowing two runs to score and earning Huff an error, the Orioles 3rd of the game.
Slip this under Pelfrey's door
For the 2nd consecutive game, Pelfrey had something of a mental breakdown. Last week against the Phillies Pelfrey and Chase Utley had a confrontation about Utley’s stepping out of the box, after which Pelfrey became unglued and quickly was removed from the game. Tonight, Pelfrey lost his composure in the 6th inning and allowed a single, home run, then single before getting Melvin Mora to ground into a double play. Already over 100 pitches, he then walked Luke Scott and was replaced by Sean Green who ended the inning. Green pitched well, getting out all five batters he faced spread over 3 innings.
Wright is taking control
Wright’s burgeoning leadership was on display in this game. During Pelfrey’s 6th inning meltdown, Wright had quite an animated conversation with him on the mound. Then after the inning, SNY cameras showed Wright again having a very animated discussion with Pelfrey in the dugout, concluded with an “atta boy” pat on the chest. Perhaps the best side effect of all the injuries the team has suffered is the blossoming of Wright as vocal team leader.
Box score courtesy cbssports.com
| New York Mets | |||||||||
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | LOB | AVG | |
| Alex Cora, SS | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .277 | |
| Fernando Martinez, LF | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | .218 | |
| Carlos Beltran, CF | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | .336 | |
| David Wright, 3B | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .365 | |
| Ryan Church, RF | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | .268 | |
| Gary Sheffield, DH | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .270 | |
| Daniel Murphy, 1B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .234 | |
| Brian Schneider, C | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .238 | |
| Luis Castillo, 2B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .279 | |
| Totals | 38 | 6 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 19 | ||
| BATTING | |||||||||
| 2B – B Schneider (4) | |||||||||
| RBI – D Wright (37); R Church (13); D Murphy (20); B Schneider (6) | |||||||||
| SF – D Murphy (3) | |||||||||
| BASERUNNING | |||||||||
| SB – D Wright (18) | |||||||||
| New York Mets | ||||||||
| Pitchers | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA |
| Mike Pelfrey (W,5-2) | 5.2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4.56 |
| Sean Green | 1.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.60 |
| Pedro Feliciano | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1.98 |
| Bobby Parnell | 0.0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.20 |
| Francisco J. Rodriguez (S,17) | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0.56 |
| Baltimore Orioles | |||||||||
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | LOB | AVG | |
| Brian Roberts, 2B | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | .293 | |
| Adam Jones, CF | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .322 | |
| Nick Markakis, RF | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .287 | |
| Aubrey Huff, 1B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .261 | |
| Melvin Mora, 3B | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .266 | |
| Luke Scott, DH | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .315 | |
| Nolan Reimold, LF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | .281 | |
| Matt Wieters, C | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .234 | |
| Robert Andino, SS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .250 | |
| a-Ty Wigginton, PH-3B | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .235 | |
| Totals | 33 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 13 | ||
| a-Walked for R Andino in the 9th. | |||||||||
| BATTING | |||||||||
| HR – N Markakis (8) | |||||||||
| RBI – B Roberts (28); N Markakis 2 (42); T Wigginton (19) | |||||||||
| BASERUNNING | |||||||||
| SB – B Roberts (14) | |||||||||
| Baltimore Orioles | ||||||||
| Pitchers | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA |
| Jeremy Guthrie (L,4-7) | 6.1 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 5.42 |
| Alberto Castillo | 0.0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.86 |
| Danys Baez | 1.2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.15 |
| Matt Albers | 1.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.01 |
26 comments
trs86
6/16/2009-11:04pm at 11:04 pm (UTC -4)
Hey grave, this is incredible. Can you dress the title up a little so it gets more attention. I want to send it to rootzoo.
Kingman 26
6/16/2009-11:07pm at 11:07 pm (UTC -4)
Did you see Nichols post another 8-man lineup today?
I hope it makes you feel magnificent to have your name on a blog that is already one of the very best–if not THE best–Met blogs in the world.
GravediggerHebner
6/16/2009-11:28pm at 11:28 pm (UTC -4)
How’s “Mets Bash Bumbling Birds?” I don’ think they really bashed them but I love alliteration.
Kingman 26
6/16/2009-11:06pm at 11:06 pm (UTC -4)
Grave, I know I have been throwing compliments your way since I first came across you on some other site, but your posts are becoming HILARIOUS! In addition to very informative and professional.
The pics for Roberts, Pelf, and Wright literally had me cracking up.
I am proud to be your co-writer on this amazing, fun, and fabulous site.
OK, we are 1–0, and if we go 10–5 in this 15 game stretch, I will make my “I Am An Idiot” post and be thrilled to do it!!
trs86
6/16/2009-11:11pm at 11:11 pm (UTC -4)
AGreed Kingman, Grave is a real talent. So glad he is doing this. How all of this came together is like a blur.
Kingman 26
6/16/2009-11:21pm at 11:21 pm (UTC -4)
I cannot even comprehend how you did it all so quickly, and how you have the time with a family and a full-time job!
Your ability, judgment, and fandom are truly impressive TRS….I hope we get to meet at some future TRDMB get together…I would SO love to meet you, Grave, Case, Qns and everyone else.
I think I will get to meet Rusty at a Saturday game this summer, but I know you are pretty far away.
trs86
6/16/2009-11:27pm at 11:27 pm (UTC -4)
Hey I get to see them play the Nats in Wash. in July for my 10 year anny. Gotta love my wife.
metsinnats
6/17/2009-9:55am at 9:55 am (UTC -4)
Maybe I’ll see ya there.. I’ll be in the super-cheap seats.
prismo
6/16/2009-11:25pm at 11:25 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed with Kingman! I don’t have a family, but my full-time job takes up so much of my life. It’s incredible that you guys even have time to write well though-out articles each day.
trs86
6/16/2009-11:26pm at 11:26 pm (UTC -4)
I have been able to sit back and let these guys go at it for the most part. They are incredible. I am the one putting up the dreaded ads everywhere. LOL.
prismo
6/16/2009-11:28pm at 11:28 pm (UTC -4)
Haha, what ads? Adblock+ for the win!
GravediggerHebner
6/16/2009-11:31pm at 11:31 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, I used my “non ad blocking” browser just now and almost went into shock at the ads all over the place. Back to firefox for me!
trs86
6/16/2009-11:51pm at 11:51 pm (UTC -4)
Once we find out which ones actually bring in money a lot are headed out.
stickguy
6/17/2009-12:10am at 12:10 am (UTC -4)
For some reason, i don’t even notice them along the side.
GravediggerHebner
6/16/2009-11:39pm at 11:39 pm (UTC -4)
I think it came together something like this. You said “who can stay up late?” and I said “I can.”
dirtysanchez
6/16/2009-11:23pm at 11:23 pm (UTC -4)
LMFAO!!!
IDK how you do this grave but again great job….ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS!!!!
smooth
6/16/2009-11:28pm at 11:28 pm (UTC -4)
phillies lost were only 3 back despite all we have gone thru
GravediggerHebner
6/16/2009-11:30pm at 11:30 pm (UTC -4)
I think it was Flavor Flav who first popularized “Yeah, Boyeee” but I’m going to borrow it from him here.
metsfan4decades
6/16/2009-11:51pm at 11:51 pm (UTC -4)
It’s all good tonight. From the win, to Krod’s, to this great post game wrap up.
And Wright stepping up to the plate somewhat tonight in moving into that leadership role on the team. Have a lot of ‘I’m a man’ going on lately with some of the guys on this team. LOL.
stickguy
6/17/2009-12:09am at 12:09 am (UTC -4)
nice to see our little boy (DW) growing up before our eyes!
some people overlook this in their win now paranoia, but the mets “core” is younger by quite a bit than the Phillies.
Heck, Vikky is 2-3 years older than Wright or Reyes, and Utley and howard are 30+ (or about to be). Utley I think is 1 (maybe 2) years younger than our elder statesman Beltran. And Ibanez, for as amazing as he has been, is already 37 (with a sore achilles).
Even K Rod is younger than Lidge (and healthier, knocking on wood). Its only really with the LH aces they are noticably younger.
There is something to be said for age bringing wisdom and experience, but remember, it does also bring older body parts!
They also got where they are today by drafting well, investing in the minors, and being patient as the core developed. Of course, they also stunk for a few years doing it, but it can pay off in the end.
no real point or relevance, just trying to keep some perspective.
gategem
6/17/2009-2:01am at 2:01 am (UTC -4)
Stickguy, how old are you?
metsfan4decades
6/17/2009-12:34am at 12:34 am (UTC -4)
Maybe we should start to look at the positives here, like we’re still over .500 and are within striking distance of 1st even with the lineup we’ve had to parade out there over the past month.
Phils fans getting worried. Over on Beerleaguer one of them commented on their loss tonight:
‘All I can say is; ahem..don’t let that happen in August or September.’
Someone immediately commented back with:
‘It’s not like the games don’t count as much in June. These failures at the end of games are going to come back to haunt us, just like they haunted the Mets last year.
When the Mets are trotting out a AAA lineup everyday and we’re having trouble staying even with them, we have serious issues when players begin to come back.’
****************
I think the Phils pitching, or lack thereof, is starting to cost them. Someone also did an analysis of Ibanez’s HRs, commenting on those that would have went out regardless of parks, those that would only have went out in bandboxes, those that had a little help b/c of the weather, etc. Conclusion was he’s been extremely lucky due to circumstances and they expect him to come back to earth second half of the season. Final parting shot was ‘so the pitching better step it up, ’cause the offense isn’t going to keep bailing them out’.
Oh yeah, another error tonight to compliments of Howard has them commenting about shoddy defense and mental mistakes.
Nothing like reading the oppositions fan base to give me a more positive aspect on the Mets chances – LOL.
gategem
6/17/2009-2:04am at 2:04 am (UTC -4)
lol Remember they have their Alex’s too.
metsfan4decades
6/17/2009-7:49am at 7:49 am (UTC -4)
Ha! Good one.
darknova306
6/17/2009-7:08am at 7:08 am (UTC -4)
But the defense our team has makes it difficult to have confidence. And I can’t be confident about our pitching staff until Pelf shows he can keep his head cool with runners on base and Santana proves that he’s healthy. We’re one bad MRI away from having a worse pitching staff than Philly.
gategem
6/17/2009-2:06am at 2:06 am (UTC -4)
lol It was fun watching a game where the Keystone Cops infiltrated the other side for a change.
Heb, fine wrapup.