Mets(courtesy of mlb.com)
Jeff Francoeur continued his hot start to the season, going 2-for-4 with a run scored in Thursday’s finale vs. the Rockies. Francoeur has hit in all nine games, batting .438 (14-for-32). David Wright holds the team record for a hitting streak to start the season, with 14 in 2007. Francoeur needs a hit on Friday night to tie for second with Darryl Strawberry (1987), Robin Ventura (’99) and Wright (’09). … The Cardinals will be the fourth different club the Mets have faced this season. They start the season facing 10 different opponents for the first time in their history.
The Mets aren’t exactly his favorite team to face, historically. Carpenter enters the outing 1-4 with a 4.80 ERA in five career starts against the Mets, his only win coming in September 2005.
That said, the Mets likely won’t be as concerned about how they’ve done against Carpenter in the past. They’ll be more focused on getting their season on track, building on a strong finish in Denver — a 5-0 victory Thursday for their first shutout of the season.
Lineup
Reyes, SS
Castillo, 2B
Wright, 3B
Bay, LF
Jacobs, 1B
Francoeur, RF
Barajas, C
Matthews, CF
Perez, P
Cardinals(courtesy of mlb.com)
After starting the season 3-for-21, Ryan Ludwick reeled off a four-hit home opener and went 7-for-12 against the Astros, including a single in Thursday’s finale. … Catcher Bryan Anderson, recalled from Triple-A Memphis when Jason LaRue went on the disabled list on Thursday, got his first Major League at-bat on Thursday, lining out while pinch-hitting for starter Yadier Molina in the ninth.
Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter is a two-time Comeback Player of the Year Award winner, but, despite some grumbling about his first two starts, he isn’t in need of one now.
“There are expectations, I guess, of what I’m supposed to be doing,” Carpenter said. “I gave up a couple homers, and it’s turned into chaos, I guess.”
Heading into his Friday assignment against the Mets and left-hander Oliver Perez in the opener of a three-game series at Busch Stadium, Carpenter has allowed five homers — including three in an 8-7 loss to the Brewers last Sunday night — after allowing just seven all of last year.
Lineup
Lopez, 2B
Craig, LF
Puljos, 1B
Ludwick, RF
Molina, C
Freese, 3B
Mather, CF
Ryan, SS
Carpenter, P
PLAY BALL
28 comments
metsfan4decades
4/16/2010-8:22pm at 8:22 pm (UTC -4)
Let’s go Ollie P.!
metsfan4decades
4/16/2010-8:24pm at 8:24 pm (UTC -4)
Why in the living hell is Jacobs still batting 5th????
Two on, Jacobs up, strikes out. Raise your hand if you think Frenchy could have kept that 1st inning rally going…..
GravediggerHebner
4/16/2010-9:18pm at 9:18 pm (UTC -4)
GMJ and Jacobs getting even semi-regular playing time is definitely hindering this lineup. Gotta think Pagan and Murphy (Carter? Davis?) would make for a better lineup.
metsfan4decades
4/16/2010-9:23pm at 9:23 pm (UTC -4)
No argument from me there. Even if GMJ is hitting like .500 against Carpenter. I don’t even know when the last time was he faced Carpenter.
metsfan4decades
4/16/2010-9:47pm at 9:47 pm (UTC -4)
Bottom of the 5th. Carpenter/Ollie pitching duel. Who would have thought?
Must score more runs guys.
metsfan4decades
4/16/2010-10:00pm at 10:00 pm (UTC -4)
7th inning now. Still 1-0.
Who is this guy on the mound and what did he do with Ollie P.?
asod75
4/16/2010-10:19pm at 10:19 pm (UTC -4)
Of course, when the Mets are getting blown out or are losing, the bullpen is magnificent. When it’s close, it’s hit by pitches and walks. Thanks Nieve!
asod75
4/16/2010-10:24pm at 10:24 pm (UTC -4)
Damn it! This team will kill us all….
stickguy
4/16/2010-10:25pm at 10:25 pm (UTC -4)
looks like good ollie tonight. Maybe we are up to 4/5 of a rotation!
just taking a major risk pushing him into the 7th of a close game.
asod75
4/16/2010-10:26pm at 10:26 pm (UTC -4)
Never thought I’d say this, but Jerry probably shouldn’t have taken him out….
stickguy
4/16/2010-10:29pm at 10:29 pm (UTC -4)
well, his pitch count was reasonable, and if you are willing to let him start the inning, he probably should be allowed to stay in.
asod75
4/16/2010-11:15pm at 11:15 pm (UTC -4)
I wouldn’t have had a problem with it, but it was the bottom of the order. Brendan Ryan most likely isn’t going to take him deep there, and if Holliday pinch hits, then you make the switch. Regardless, Nieve had Schumaker 1-2 and hit him with a pitch, really opening the floodgates in that inning. And I know Valdes has had success early on, but if you really must bring in a lefty there, why not Feliciano?
stickguy
4/16/2010-10:25pm at 10:25 pm (UTC -4)
man, I picked the wrong time to log in and check the game.
Fine time for the pen to melt down.
But, at least they got carpenter out.
asod75
4/16/2010-10:26pm at 10:26 pm (UTC -4)
And there’s the strikeout, one batter too late.
stickguy
4/16/2010-10:28pm at 10:28 pm (UTC -4)
I also love how 1 good game and any no name career stiff becomes the go to guy for jerry. bases loaded for valdes?
asod75
4/16/2010-10:29pm at 10:29 pm (UTC -4)
Especially with a slew of right-handers coming up behind the switch-hitter. And speaking of Lopez, must be nice to have a second baseman who can hit it out of the infield consistently….
asod75
4/16/2010-10:36pm at 10:36 pm (UTC -4)
Come on guys, big rally here. J-Bay, time to go deep for the first time as a Met. LGM!
asod75
4/16/2010-10:39pm at 10:39 pm (UTC -4)
And Bay K’s. He’s officially a Met.
metsfan4decades
4/16/2010-10:41pm at 10:41 pm (UTC -4)
Nice. Apparently, the BP can only pitch stellar when we’re losing.
Ollie ought to smack them upside the head for that performance….
asod75
4/16/2010-10:42pm at 10:42 pm (UTC -4)
Ollie was great tonight. The pen, not so much. I know Iggy is supposed to the the eighth inning guy, but would it have killed Jerry to go to him two outs earlier?
metsfan4decades
4/16/2010-10:56pm at 10:56 pm (UTC -4)
And our offense is M.I.A.
Cardinals offense? They stepped up for Carpenter.
asod75
4/16/2010-11:04pm at 11:04 pm (UTC -4)
OK, so the tying run will come to the plate yet again. What will happen?
A. strikeout
B. GIDP
C. weak popup
D. a hit
asod75
4/16/2010-11:05pm at 11:05 pm (UTC -4)
Is Angel Pagan sick? Because I’d rather see him than Frank “0 for the season” Catalanotto.
asod75
4/16/2010-11:05pm at 11:05 pm (UTC -4)
Like I said, I’d rather see the Cat. Come on Mets! Do it for us, please….
asod75
4/16/2010-11:06pm at 11:06 pm (UTC -4)
ahhh..I see, angel pinch runs for the Cat.
asod75
4/16/2010-11:06pm at 11:06 pm (UTC -4)
And it all comes down to Slappy.
metsfan4decades
4/16/2010-11:09pm at 11:09 pm (UTC -4)
Same script. Different night.
Really. Getting. Old.
asod75
4/16/2010-11:10pm at 11:10 pm (UTC -4)
Yep, 3-7. The Mets are a terrible team right now. Let’s hope we don’t hear “I saw some good things. We fought hard tonight” from clueless Jerry. At least Ollie pitched well, but the bullpen tanked. And had Bay been able to make contact in the eighth, they still might be playing right now.