Mets beat Orioles 4-3. Wait, what? Oh...
Like Dewey, or perhaps like the 2004 Yankees, the New York Mets snatched defeat from the jaws of victory and came from ahead to lose 5-4 to the Baltimore Orioles. The Birds scored 2 runs in the 9th inning off Francisco Rodriguez, who only recorded 1 out. Aubrey Huff topped off his superb 3 game audition for the Mets’ brass by driving in the winning run with a line single to right field. For the series Huff had 6 hits in 12 at bats, scoring 2 runs and driving in 4 with his 9th homer and 15th double of the season.
The game was going well for the Mets until the 9th. Livan Hernandez gave New York another quality start with 7 innings of 2 run ball. Met killer Robert Andino, who weighs 170 pounds soaking wet, gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead in the 3rd inning when he hit the 3rd home run of his 111-games-scattered-over-5-seasons career. It was the 2nd of his career off the Mets, some of you may recall the name Matt Wise. This game hurt too much for me to go any further into that.
The Orioles scored another run in the 5th when Brian Roberts doubled in future star Matt Wieters to make the score 2-0 O’s. The Mets tied the score in the bottom of the 6th on a David Wright sacrifice fly and a Ryan Church RBI single, then took the lead in the 7th when David Murphy doubled to left scoring Alex Cora, then Carlos Beltran singled home Murphy to make it 4-2 Mets. The Orioles got within 1 in the bottom of the 8th when Luke Scott’s RBI ground out scored Huff.
Huff hurts Mets
That set the stage for Rodriguez to close out the Orioles in the 9th. Wieters led off with a double then was replaced by pinch runner Felix Pie. Next pinch hitter Nolan Reimold walked. Roberts then laid down a nice sacrifice bunt which Met catcher Omir Santos picked up and fired to 3rd base in an attempt to get the lead runner, but the swift Pie slid in just before the throw got there and the bases were loaded with no outs. Adam Jones then coaxed a walk out of Rodriguez to drive in Pie with the tying run. Nick Markakis struck out looking but instead of grounding into a double play, Huff, wanting to impress his potential future teammates, manager and coaches, struck a line drive single to right to plate Reimold with the winner.
3 days hard work
So the Mets started a stretch of 26 games in 27 days by playing down to the competition in Baltimore and losing 2 of 3 to the Orioles who now stand at 29-37, 11.5 games out in last place in the AL East. Now the Mets return home and prepare to take on the reigning AL Champion Tampa Bay Rays who are scheduled to start Andy Sonnanstine (5-6, 6.65) versus Fernando Nieve (1-0, 2.08).
For the box score and game notes, please visit cbssports.com
37 comments
QnsNative718
6/18/2009-10:59pm at 10:59 pm (UTC -4)
Huff beats us twice… Aubrey, I know a couple nice restaurants in Queens. I’ll put your name in. The funny thing is… if Roberts doesnt take his eyes up from that grounder on Tuesday, we couldve easily been talking about getting swept. I know theyre alot of “ifs” in baseball, but just think about that one.
metsfan4decades
6/18/2009-11:01pm at 11:01 pm (UTC -4)
Well, at least I have this post wrap up and graphics to make me smile. Because the game certainly didn’t do it for me.
Why does it seem:
- On the nights the SP has got it, the offense barely does and/or the BP blows it?
- On the nights the offense has it, the defense gives it up?
- On the nights we play ‘crisp’ baseball, we get out pitched by some scrub?
- On the nights our ace strikes out double digits, we can’t get him a run and errors lose the game.
You get the picture, I’m sure. Conclusion: can all facets get on the same page on the same night, please? Then maybe we can string some Ws together….
Oh, and if you think I’m whining, our friends on BL, commenting on the Ibanez to the DL post, are so pissed off, especially with the rumors of Ibanez juicing, they’re speculating the likes of Johan and Wright are ‘juicing’, too and that’s why Johan has had a bad couple of starts and Wright has minimal HRs. Said they’re ‘breaking’ down too.
Just get them a bottle already…
QnsNative718
6/18/2009-11:05pm at 11:05 pm (UTC -4)
F em…. Ibanez is looking at “atleast” after the ASB. Welcome to OUR world…
GravediggerHebner
6/18/2009-11:09pm at 11:09 pm (UTC -4)
What you mention is what Beltran said recently, that the team has to play perfect to win.
QnsNative718
6/18/2009-11:14pm at 11:14 pm (UTC -4)
Thats just the way baseball is, Grave, 4D. The 33 games the Mets did win werent all perfect. If we can take anything from this game is that Aubrey Huff will be a Met come July. Bold statement to make, I know.
gategem
6/18/2009-11:22pm at 11:22 pm (UTC -4)
“Why does it seem:
- On the nights the SP has got it, the offense barely does and/or the BP blows it?
- On the nights the offense has it, the defense gives it up?
- On the nights we play ‘crisp’ baseball, we get out pitched by some scrub?
- On the nights our ace strikes out double digits, we can’t get him a run and errors lose the game.”
lol This has been said before by another fan, for another team in another place. In the future they will probably say it on the moon but no one will hear them with no atmosphere or in the vacuum of space. It’s called the loser’s lament. It has been said by my many a fan whose team has been losing.
metsfan4decades
6/18/2009-11:54pm at 11:54 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, I know. But unlike last year where it was just about always the BP, this year it’s spin the wheel and pick a scenario….
gategem
6/18/2009-11:58pm at 11:58 pm (UTC -4)
lol But isn’t it more exciting not to know in advance how you will lose the game?
metsfan4decades
6/19/2009-12:05am at 12:05 am (UTC -4)
LOL. O.K., touche.
QnsNative718
6/18/2009-11:03pm at 11:03 pm (UTC -4)
But hey, atleast the Yanks got shutout by the Nationals and lost the series. I had a great time bustin my boys douchebag balls over that one. Ol’ Georgie Boy is scheming up news ways to blow $465M this offseason to make sure that doesnt happen again.
dirtysanchez
6/18/2009-11:05pm at 11:05 pm (UTC -4)
ok qnz…i see a closeup of the mets symbol of a mets hat
QnsNative718
6/18/2009-11:12pm at 11:12 pm (UTC -4)
ugh.. I use Firefox I get the avatar that I want(Mets insignia). I use IE at work and I still get my ugly ass face, even though Gravatar.com has that pic deleted and the insignia as the primary avatar… whatever.
GravediggerHebner
6/18/2009-11:14pm at 11:14 pm (UTC -4)
You would have to clear the cache of your work computer, delete cookies and history and all that, to get your new avatar.
QnsNative718
6/18/2009-11:16pm at 11:16 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks for that Grave. I wonder if I can get that deep into my computer before being restricted. I do work for AIG afterall…
dirtysanchez
6/18/2009-11:10pm at 11:10 pm (UTC -4)
tough game…..
gategem
6/18/2009-11:14pm at 11:14 pm (UTC -4)
Jimmy the Greek made his first lucrative bet when he bet on Truman. In an interview I heard Mr. Snyder claimed he bet on Truman because at that time no man with a mustache was going to win the election.
BTW the Orioles are 21-17 at home.
GravediggerHebner
6/18/2009-11:16pm at 11:16 pm (UTC -4)
I wonder if he ever bet on any white athletes?
stickguy
6/18/2009-11:37pm at 11:37 pm (UTC -4)
Well, I don’t like to be fatalistic, but IMO, with this latest debable, I am going to write off the season. Omar needs to hold or sell (if he has anything to sell, like Sheffield). Only buy for Money, not prospects.
Yeah, I know that mathmaticlaly they are in the hunt, and they COULD still make the playoffs.
I just don’t think they WILL make the playoffs.
Especially now that DW is going into a down cycle. And they seem to refuse to want to send Fernando back to his hideaway.
Only nice thing today was the Yanks getting shut out by the Nats at the launching pad. Wonder what odds you would have gotten betting on that?
dirtysanchez
6/18/2009-11:41pm at 11:41 pm (UTC -4)
cmon stick….we are still 3 back..what good is first in june. We need to be in first in october or WC in october. So we lost this one…tough loss and keep it moving. Philly lost as well so nothing happens. Philly lost lidge and ibanez so they are not going anywhere that fast and those injuries should hold them in striking range. How on earth you write this team off now is ridiculous and i expected more from you. We have had more crushing losses(yankee game) than this one. At least this one the orioles BEAT us…we didnt hand it over to them with a error or something…
stickguy
6/18/2009-11:45pm at 11:45 pm (UTC -4)
Just my feeling at the moment. Note that I said they certainly could do it. I just don’t think they will.
that could change if the rest of the chatter division plays like crap for the next month too, and the Mets get a bunch of new players in.
sometimes the optomists get frustrated too.
dirtysanchez
6/18/2009-11:50pm at 11:50 pm (UTC -4)
im as frustrated as anyone but in no way am i writing the season off
metsfan4decades
6/18/2009-11:56pm at 11:56 pm (UTC -4)
Oh, no. Nowhere near ready to write off the season. We’re 3 back with plenty left to play. Hang in there.
dirtysanchez
6/18/2009-11:38pm at 11:38 pm (UTC -4)
I was thinking about this today…i wonder if our offense is compairable to that of the braves
Beltran-Mcclouth
Wright-Mccan
Shef-Chipper
and the rest is a black hole…thoughts?
stickguy
6/18/2009-11:42pm at 11:42 pm (UTC -4)
top to bottom, probably equivilant.
And the Braves SP is better at the moment.
I would have said the Mets have the pen edge, but not sure about that now.
Phils must be laughing though. They play like crap, and it doesn’t matter.
Could be 85 wins is plenty to take the division this year.
dirtysanch
6/18/2009-11:48pm at 11:48 pm (UTC -4)
oh i was just comparing lineups
edge to them with sp
edge to us with bp
besides how long do you think they are going to be laughing…they must be worried about how many breaks they can get. We are injured and in striking distance…i dont think philly is laughing at all as im sure they wanted to pull away by now
stickguy
6/18/2009-11:59pm at 11:59 pm (UTC -4)
the attitude down here (with the team too) is it doesn’t matter. As long as they are within shouting distance in September, they are going to end up winning anyway.
stickguy
6/18/2009-11:40pm at 11:40 pm (UTC -4)
Oh, what the hell was Feliciano doing in this game? He was in 7 of the last nine, and pitching full innings. He had nothing last night, and should have been rested unless a dire emergency.
If Jerry won’t use the other guys in the pen, then either they need to go, or Jerry does.
Heck, let them al lgo together.
trs86
6/18/2009-11:42pm at 11:42 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed, but part of that is not having another LHP. What is the point of Taka?
stickguy
6/18/2009-11:47pm at 11:47 pm (UTC -4)
they got that irish guy they called up too. He pitched once, and disappeared. So there are 3 lefties.
And with a 2 run lead, better to use a fresher (if they had one) RH pitcher instead of a dead lefty.
gategem
6/18/2009-11:53pm at 11:53 pm (UTC -4)
If I remember correctly there were left handed relievers available during the off-season that because of the economy could have been signed without a major impact on the payroll. I haven’t checked recently but I think they were better than Switzer or Taka.
stickguy
6/19/2009-12:12am at 12:12 am (UTC -4)
TRS probably has them memorized. I know that Bleimel (on the nats) and Guardado were 2 of them.
dirtysanchez
6/18/2009-11:53pm at 11:53 pm (UTC -4)
jerry will use his main guys until their arms fall off
stickguy
6/19/2009-12:01am at 12:01 am (UTC -4)
one more reason he gotta go!
He has this weird schitzo thing going. He 1/2 looks at the zen, long term big picture, then manages like its the WS.
Pedro F, at this pace, is going to be worthless in the 2nd half, just like last year.
stickguy
6/19/2009-12:09am at 12:09 am (UTC -4)
was jerry really laughing douring the post game? What the hell did he find to laugh about?
It seems like he doesn’t really care that much now. Or at least the losing doesn’t bother him (heck, he seems to have said as much already).
Not a big deal if a commentor on a blog gets frustrated and blows off some steam, but the manager of a team should at least portray that he expects to win, and at least pretend to be bothered when they dont!
stickguy
6/19/2009-12:11am at 12:11 am (UTC -4)
Oh well. maybe they beat the Rays? Please?
It would be nice if Omar at least tried to tweak things to give them a bit more potential to win. Pull the plug on F Mart (wily mo?), and if there are 2 guys buried in Jerry’s dog house pen, maybe try to find some live arms to replace them?
Jerry and Omar are a great pair. Omar loves to leave the 25 man roster short, and Jerry refuses to use all of wha the does get!
prismo
6/19/2009-4:24am at 4:24 am (UTC -4)
“Since there’s no logical reason why the Phillies can’t win at home, how about an illogical one: the weather. It’s been crappy for the better part of the spring, and the Phillies are a warm and sunny kind of team. That’s all I got.” -posted by some guy on Beerleaguer
You’re welcome! My rain-dances have worked.
GravediggerHebner
6/19/2009-11:05am at 11:05 am (UTC -4)
Warm and sunny are never words that come to mind when I’m thinking about the Phillies.