Game Time: 7:10pm
Record: 9-7 Era: 3.29 K: 107 BB: 36 WHIP: 1.23
Mets Notes:
- Though he lost to the Phillies on Sunday — for the first time in his career — Santana provided the kind of performance the Mets expect from him, and one that might have been accompanied by a victory with a modicum of run support. The left-hander threw 101 pitches in seven innings, most of them of high quality but with slightly less velocity — 90-91 mph — than pitches he threw regularly in April and May. But two were hit for bases-empty home runs by Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley. And the Mets lost, 2-0. Santana allowed one other hit and two walks. After producing a 6.19 ERA and a 2-4 record in six June starts, Santana opened July with an outing that was more in keeping with what he has done in other summers. The Reds were Santana’s first conquest this season. He allowed one run and three hits in 5 2/3 innings against them on Opening Day. Santana has faced Cincinnati on two other occasions since the beginning of the 2006 season, winning one and not pitching particularly well in the other, a no-decision. Recently activated third baseman Edwin Encarnacion has four hits — two of them home runs — in five career at-bats against Santana.
- Tatis is the only Met not on the DL to have homered off Cueto. New York did make a move Friday designed to bolster its offense, dealing outfielder Ryan Church to Atlanta for Jeff Francoeur. The 25-year-old right fielder, who had three doubles and two RBIs in his final game with the Braves, is expected to start Saturday.
- “Jeff brings a certain energy,†Wright said. “He can really come here and make an immediate impact.†Francoeur is 1 for 2 with a double in his career against Cueto.
LINEUP
Pagan, CF
Castillo, 2B
Wright, 3B
Sheffield, LF
Francoeur, RF
Murphy, 1B
Santos, C
Cora, 2B
Santana, P
- Record: 8-5 Era: 3.45 K: 79 BB: 35 WHIP: 1.19
Reds Notes:
- Cueto isn’t just coming off of any old loss, he’s coming off the worst outing of his brief career and the most lopsided loss in Reds history. The right-hander lasted just two-thirds of an inning in Cincinnati’s 22-1 shellacking in Philadelphia on Monday. In his time on the mound, Cueto faced 11 batters and threw 49 pitches. He gave up nine earned runs and five hits with three walks, a hit batter and one strikeout. His once-sterling 2.69 ERA was no more.
- Cueto’s luck hasn’t been much better against the Mets. He faced New York twice last season, going 0-1 with a 10.80 ERA and allowing four homers in 10 innings.
- The Reds’ offense didn’t help out Cueto (8-5, 3.45) in his last start, but run support wouldn’t have made much of a difference. Cueto was charged with nine runs and five hits in just two-thirds of an inning Monday at Philadelphia in a 22-1 rout.
LINEUP
Taveras, CF
Bruce, RF
Votto, 1B
Phillips, 2B
Hernandez, C
Encarnacion, 3B
Gomes, LF
Hairston, SS
Cueto, P
- Welcome to the club Frenchy
Dont forget you can chat live in the Real Dirty Dugout! LGM!
5 comments
metsfan4decades
7/11/2009-7:26pm at 7:26 pm (UTC -4)
I’ll settle for anything but another shutout tonight. Won’t even hope for the win (although it sure would be nice).
How low we have sunk….
ghostofshea
7/11/2009-7:49pm at 7:49 pm (UTC -4)
The ghost is here! Lets go frenchy!!! Wooo! Yes overly excited but this has to be probably the most exciting thing in a while this season. Lol. Hope he really turns it around. 2 rbi’s so far.
metsfan4decades
7/11/2009-7:50pm at 7:50 pm (UTC -4)
So Frenchy able to do what no other Met could do at least 3 times this week – drive in runs. If only it was this easy….
LGM!
ghostofshea
7/11/2009-7:59pm at 7:59 pm (UTC -4)
Lmaoo. 4real. Wow! Frenchy n angel r here n it shows some stride so far these past 2innings.
saltygary
7/11/2009-8:33pm at 8:33 pm (UTC -4)
Whens the last time Santana got more than a run on the board in the beginning of the game.