"He got a real pretty knuckler ain't he?"
New York Mets starter and winner R.A. Dickey (1-0) became the 2nd consecutive knuckleball pitcher to befuddle the Philadelphia Phillies after Tim Wakefield of the Boston Red Sox did so on Sunday, throwing 6 scoreless innings while the Mets offense played the Phillies pitchers like banjos en route to an 8-0 Mets victory at Citi Field.
"I bet you Philly boys squeal like pigs. Weeeeee!"
This season the Mets are now 15-4 when Jose Reyes scores a run. Reyes led off the 1st inning with a single and moved up to second base on a bunt by Luis Castillo. Reyes then stole third for his 10th steal of the season. Jason Bay grounded out to short driving in Reyes for a 1-0 Mets lead.
"If you hit any baseballs don't hit 'em with your head."
The Mets added another run in the 2nd. With 1 out Angel Pagan singled. Rod Barajas followed with a single moving Pagan to third base then Jeff Francoeur singled to drive in Pagan for a 2-0 lead.
"Night has fallen, and there's nothing the Phillies can do about it."
In the 4th inning the Mets scored again. David Wright doubled leading off the inning. Pagan walked, then Wright advanced to third base on a fly out to center by Barajas. Francoeur then drove in his 2nd run of the game with a sacrifice fly and it was 3-0 Mets after 4 innings.
"Goddamn you play a mean baseball."
The Mets put up another run in the 5th. Reyes led off the inning with a bunt single and then stole his 2nd base of the game and 11th on the season. He moved to third base on a ground out by Castillo and scored on a single by Bay who then stole his 7th base of the season but was stranded there and after 5 it was 4-0 Mets.
"Insurance runs? There's no risk!"
Knowing full well that the Phillies lineup is normally potent, the Mets added an insurance run so that they couldn’t possibly tie the game with one swing.  In the bottom of the 6th David Herndon relieved Phillies starter Jamie Moyer (5-4). With one out Francoeur doubled into the right field corner. Chris Carter then pinch-hit for Dickey and singled to center driving in Francoeur for a 5-0 Mets lead.
"Hey what happens if we flip this thing over?"
In the 8th old friend Nelson Figueroa came on in relief for the Phillies and the Mets made sure he wouldn’t soon forget his visit. Barajas singled with 1 out. After Francoeur lined out, relief pitcher Raul Valdes who had taken over for Dickey to start the 7th came to bat. He promptly doubled over the outstretched glove of right fielder Jayson Werth to drive in Barajas. Reyes followed with an RBI triple and Castillo plated Reyes with a single turning the 5-0 game into an 8-0 blowout. Valdes pitched the final 3 innings for an old fashioned save, the 1st of his career, striking out Ryan Howard to end the game.
"I'm not wearing anything except this Dickey."
17 comments
rustyjr
5/25/2010-10:19pm at 10:19 pm (UTC -4)
Great game !! Btw we have a big dickey when all the have is a bastardo & a dick pole !
metsfan4decades
5/25/2010-10:20pm at 10:20 pm (UTC -4)
‘Deliverance by Dickey’ – Priceless!
Have to say, the peripheral pickups by Omar – Dickey, Taka, Barajas to name a few, are really panning out so far.
That Reyes stat when scores a run is just staggering. Probably a very good reason to just leave him at leadoff. You just have a good feeling when we get a Reyes run in the 1st.
Do it again tomorrow, boys!
stickguy
5/25/2010-10:52pm at 10:52 pm (UTC -4)
I think it is pretty clear that Reyes is going to be the leadoff hitter as long as he is here.
Now, if we can just get Castillo out of the 2 hole, the top of the line up will be pretty darned good.
Mr North Jersey
5/25/2010-10:22pm at 10:22 pm (UTC -4)
Welcome back Grave.
Deliverance is the word.
Mets are .500!
GravediggerHebner
5/25/2010-10:31pm at 10:31 pm (UTC -4)
Thank you sir.
And thank you to Gonzo, Dirty and Prismo (and anyone else I may be overlooking) for their fine post game work in my absence.
stickguy
5/25/2010-10:58pm at 10:58 pm (UTC -4)
it was like you were never gone big guy.
Oh wait, not sure that came out like a compliment…
dirtysanchez
5/25/2010-10:31pm at 10:31 pm (UTC -4)
welcome back mr grave!
great post game wrap and great game!
fongy2
5/25/2010-10:34pm at 10:34 pm (UTC -4)
This Dickey does NOT suck!
fongy2
5/25/2010-10:36pm at 10:36 pm (UTC -4)
Sorry the little boy in me
couldn’t resist!
metsfan4decades
5/25/2010-10:45pm at 10:45 pm (UTC -4)
Oh….LOL.
Listening to his interview on post game. He’s one of the most laid back guys I’ve ever listened to. And one tough dude. Asking him about that shot he took and he said, ‘It hurts’. Still managed to pitch continued shut out ball.
He said he talked to Wakefield today who gave him some tips for what he did against the Phils the other day. Told RA they are a free swinging team so take that for what it’s worth. Said there wasn’t much advice though b/c you have a knuckle ball, you throw the knuckle ball….
stickguy
5/25/2010-10:55pm at 10:55 pm (UTC -4)
funny. I thought they are a patient team that liked to work the count, and make you dig yourself into a hole.
GravediggerHebner
5/25/2010-10:43pm at 10:43 pm (UTC -4)
X-rays on Dickey’s elbow negative, he expects it to be swollen for a few days.
Kingman 26
5/25/2010-10:54pm at 10:54 pm (UTC -4)
HA!!
Great work and awesome use of a classic movie!
Figgy sux.
stickguy
5/25/2010-10:55pm at 10:55 pm (UTC -4)
Hee hee. Every game now, Kingman gets suck back in just a little bit more….
gategem
5/26/2010-1:05am at 1:05 am (UTC -4)
If one were to go back and reprint some of the comments about Dickey in ST they would echo your comment about Figgy. How fickle be these fans. lol
stickguy
5/25/2010-10:57pm at 10:57 pm (UTC -4)
Well, only 1/4 of the way in, and everyone that wanted ollie and maine gone, you got your wish. a different rotation.
as long as Neise comes back OK, that just means that they need to piece meal the 4 and 5 spots, out of taka, valdes, dickey, ollie and maine. Pretty much what most other teams do, actually.
and from what we have seen, there is likely enough talent there to mix and match to get it done.
prismo
5/25/2010-11:23pm at 11:23 pm (UTC -4)
Welcome back to work Grave!