The Mets looked to extend their streak of Opening Day wins to 6 when they took on the Marlins tonight at Sunlight Stadium. Mike Pelfrey, the Mets new number one starter, took the hill for the Mets and Marlins ace Josh Johnson threw for the fish. There was roughly 40,000 fans attending tonight’s game.
Pelfry labored through the bottom of the first throwing 25 pitchers, 10 alone to the lead off hitter Chris Coghlan that resulted in a walk. Hanley Ramirez flied out to Virgin Right Fielder Carlos Beltran. Mike Stanton hit a screaming double and was stranded at second.
The only action in the top of the second was an Ike Davis walk and advance to second on a balk. Pelfrey settled down in the bottom of the second touching 93 on the gun and set the Marlins down in order for the next two innings but he was throwing a lot of pitches. Josh Johnson was dealing and hitting 97 while setting down the Mets in order in the top of the third and fourth, fifth and sixth innings-the guy’s a beast on the mound. I have to admit, by the the sixth inning, I really thought that the Mets were going to be part of some more negative trivia.
It was the bottom of the 4th that Pelfrey ran into trouble, he had the bases loaded with one out when catcher John Buck hit a grand slam. It is going to be a long season? The Marlins had 4 runs before the Mets had their first hit of the 2011 season. Pelfrey wouldn’t make it out of the bottom of the fifth. He would leave runners on the corners for Blaine Boyer who gave up an RBI single from Gaby Sanchez. Pedro Beato, making his major league debut, was greeted rudely in the bottom of the 6th by a John Buck double but managed to get out of the inning without giving up a run. He would give up another base hit in the seventh but threw another scoreless inning.
Willie Harris finally got to Josh Johnson in the top of the Seventh with a legged out double and was pushed to third on a David Wright sac fly. Carlos Beltran would hit a double down the right field line to score Harris putting the Mets on the board and giving Beltran his first RBI of the season. Pagan would reach on an infield base hit, which was really an Hanley Ramirez error. With runners on the corners, Ike Davis would ground out scoring Beltran. Josh Johnson was finally lifted from the game after giving up a walk to Brad Esmaus. Mike Dunn came in for the Marlins and struck out Scott Hairston who DH’d for Thole.
The Marlins would tack on another run and finish off the Mets in a game that lasted less than 3 hours.
Special notes: Jose Reyes and David Wright would both go 0-4. The Mets also managed just 4 hits. This is only the 10 Opening Day game the Mets have lost in 42 years.
39 comments
njstuckintx
4/1/2011-10:49pm at 10:49 pm (UTC -4)
Well, if you figure the Mets 1-2 are inferior to others 1-2, yet their 4-5 (health pending) are superior to others 4-5, it’ll all come down to Dickey, eh? Hopefully Dickey can go long, is strong and may his balls flutter a whole lot. And may he pitch well too.
Ceetar
4/2/2011-8:18am at 8:18 am (UTC -4)
A long Dickey is a good Dickey.
TRS86
4/2/2011-8:36am at 8:36 am (UTC -4)
Honestly after JJ, the Marlins rotation does not scare me at all. I like the next 2 matchups.
kistics
4/2/2011-9:03am at 9:03 am (UTC -4)
Me too.
To me, I don’t mind Pelf over matched against other Aces as long as he keeps the team in the game.
Ceetar
4/2/2011-9:06am at 9:06 am (UTC -4)
this again? I t’s not true. Pelfrey’s not even going to face Halladay the SECOND time through.
metsfan4decades
4/1/2011-11:09pm at 11:09 pm (UTC -4)
What the heck is it with Pelf and the Marlins? 0-6 in 11 starts.
Have to tip your cap to JJ but even still…..the kid is dealing and they’re letting him off the hook with no patience, for the most part.
No telling what the outcome would have been if not for that GS but still. And dang, we didn’t have to wait long for a Met pitcher to give up another one of those, did we?
There were 40,000 fans in the stadium tonight? That is one big park. Looked about half full to me.
stickguy
4/1/2011-11:14pm at 11:14 pm (UTC -4)
the new one is only going to seat about 36,000. probably more suited to their fan base!
TRS86
4/2/2011-8:37am at 8:37 am (UTC -4)
If they are suiting it to their fanbase then I think you have an extra 0 in there.
stickguy
4/1/2011-11:12pm at 11:12 pm (UTC -4)
not a good sign when you look outclassed on opening day by a mediocre team.
hopefully the offense picks up the next two days when they are facing lesser quality SP. and the Fish are facing better ones!
TRS86
4/2/2011-8:38am at 8:38 am (UTC -4)
Hard not to look outclassed when facing one of if not the best pitcher in the league.
saltygary
4/2/2011-8:42am at 8:42 am (UTC -4)
Wow the Mets looked to be in mid-season form last night.It was great to see some life on Beltran’s bat but I’m worried he won’t be able to drag his bones out of bed.
It’s one thing to put excuses on due to JJ but they faced other pitchers and it’s not a good sign when guys like Pagan are already whipping their bats around in frustration.
kistics
4/2/2011-8:50am at 8:50 am (UTC -4)
Wright with 2Ks, Pelf 70 pitches in the 4th and gave up a GS to a role player, Mets offense 0 hits, Bay on DL…. It’s like the 2010 season never ended! Ha!
That’s what I was feeling last night…
But I can’t be down with just one game. I saw couple good things out of them last night. I saw good things out of the Rule 5 guys. Emaus’ defense was solid and Beato put up two 0s after giving up lead off hits. The BP was overall pretty solid with exception of 1 HR. (Tankersley works sooo slow though). Beltran looked good both at the plate and on the field, we’ll see how he feels today.
saltygary
4/2/2011-8:58am at 8:58 am (UTC -4)
Emaus had a great stop in one of the late innings. The whole time I kept thinking about how Castillo or Murphy would have had no shot on it. I know people get on Wright sometimes for his defense but the teams infield defense will be one of the best in the NL.
kistics
4/2/2011-9:01am at 9:01 am (UTC -4)
Their IF defense should be pretty solid. I want to see Emaus’ range though. I heard that’s one of his flaws.
saltygary
4/2/2011-9:15am at 9:15 am (UTC -4)
Not that I’ve seen too much of him but I’m pretty sure it’s better than Murph and Castillo. He won’t have as much pop as Murph but where he doesn’t add runs he will save.
kistics
4/2/2011-9:28am at 9:28 am (UTC -4)
You dropped Pelf after one game and picked up Morrison?
saltygary
4/2/2011-9:47am at 9:47 am (UTC -4)
LOL. I lost Holliday so I needed an outfielder. I have Logan in another deeper league and was probably the better options in ours. I have so many pitchers that even before last night Pelf was at the bottom of my depth chart. Not a big fan of yippy pitchers in fantasy. Like more consistent guys.
kistics
4/2/2011-10:51am at 10:51 am (UTC -4)
My Choo was not enough for ya?
njstuckintx
4/2/2011-8:55am at 8:55 am (UTC -4)
I will say this, even though the game was a let down… Thank the good Lord that baseball is back.
kistics
4/2/2011-9:04am at 9:04 am (UTC -4)
When the Stros are in town, can you smack Lyon on the head for me?
njstuckintx
4/2/2011-3:08pm at 3:08 pm (UTC -4)
if the natives don’t shoot him first… sure!
gategem
4/2/2011-9:17am at 9:17 am (UTC -4)
If I may temporarily change the subject matter I underwent surgery on March 22, 2011 and the growth was removed. Fortunately the growth was benign but to give you some idea of the size of the growth and the complexity in removing it the growth weighted 30 lbs.
I am presently undergoing a long and painful recovery process that could be emotionally ameliorated by the Mets overachieving this year and/or the Wilpons giving up their dream and selling the franchise to an owner or owners that are in a strong financial position and are intelligent and caring enough to build a strong franchise for many years to come. I will, however, hedge that bet by purchasing MLB’s Extra Inning package incase I have to go elsewhere to see important baseball games this year.
fongy2
4/2/2011-9:22am at 9:22 am (UTC -4)
Wow, good luck with your health issues. BEWARE when dealing with MLB. Keep an eye on your credit credit card. I’m still fighting
with them over unauthorized charges on mine from last season.
On our Mets…………I have nothing. It’s gonna be a long, long season…..
gategem
4/2/2011-9:25am at 9:25 am (UTC -4)
Thanks for the heads-up on MLB. I’ll search the web to see if there are other issues with that package.
kistics
4/2/2011-9:26am at 9:26 am (UTC -4)
Wish you all the best and hope the Mets can help the process go a bit less painful.
saltygary
4/2/2011-9:26am at 9:26 am (UTC -4)
Jeez that is the weight of my 2 year old I can’t imagine, all the best man.
I’ve had the MLB package for almost 10 years and it’s really nice to always have access to meaningful games. Especially in times where one of the breaking news achievements are taking place I can cut over and listen to the local broadcast. As for Fongy’s issues I bet it stems from the contract where they will automatically renew unless you cancel the package.
The football package has the same clause and I canceled it just in case of a lockout and will re-up only if it makes sense.
fongy2
4/2/2011-9:33am at 9:33 am (UTC -4)
Exactly Gary. I had the package for three seasons. Last year choose to get it month by moth, feeling (correctly so) that we
wouldn’t be “playing meaningful games in September”…..Or even
August, yet I kept getting charged. Anyway, live and learn.
Jeez….Pelf and Dickey as our #1 and 2???!!!…..It’s gonna be
a long season……….
saltygary
4/2/2011-9:44am at 9:44 am (UTC -4)
Young will be our #1. Mark my words. Still not enough though…
hazmet
4/2/2011-10:03am at 10:03 am (UTC -4)
I can see it. Could be enuff if Johan’s back in mid Aug. ?
fongy2
4/2/2011-10:08am at 10:08 am (UTC -4)
It’s a little early for cocktails………No???………
We’ll be lucky to get 150 innings and 10 wins out of Young
And even luckier if we see even a half-version of Johan by
September. It’s gonna be a long, long season.
stickguy
4/2/2011-11:46am at 11:46 am (UTC -4)
I don’t expect Johan at all, but I don’t think 150 innings from Young is unreasonable.
hazmet
4/2/2011-1:57pm at 1:57 pm (UTC -4)
Is it ever really too early for cocktails? As the song goes “it’s 5 o’clock somewhere”.
Well if not Young as our #1 then who? I like Pelf’s stuff but his make up just doesn’t seem to be a #1 guy. Dickey a knuckleballer as a #1 not typical, Capuano off injury also maybe, Niese this early in his carrier. After Pelf, if Young stay’s healthy then it’s a possibility given the other candidates.
My near term concern with Young is having his first start in what is forecast to be a very cold and wet Philly this week. It’ll be a good test.
hazmet
4/2/2011-1:59pm at 1:59 pm (UTC -4)
**career.
Not sure where the heck carrier came from. Maybe I thought the old Tampa Bay Bucanner receiver Mark Carrier resurrected a career as a pitcher….
hazmet
4/2/2011-10:02am at 10:02 am (UTC -4)
So good to here the positive outlook. I’ve been wondering how the surgery went, thanks for including us on the good news. Take it slow and here’s to hoping the Mets give you and all of us some good viewing in 2011.
30Lbs!!! jeez, can’t get my head around that.
metsfan4decades
4/2/2011-11:12am at 11:12 am (UTC -4)
Glad t hear it was benign, gategem. Even though the days ahead don’t initially sound fun at all, you’ve got a light at the end of the tunnel now. You might have had a brighter light had the Mets looked like they were poised to compete this year. But hey, you never know.
Good luck to you, Sir!
gategem
4/2/2011-9:22am at 9:22 am (UTC -4)
Gonzo thank you for a fine post game wrapup. It’s tough replacing an icon like Heb but you’re off to a fine start.
metsfan4decades
4/2/2011-11:13am at 11:13 am (UTC -4)
This and ditto.
hazmet
4/2/2011-10:06am at 10:06 am (UTC -4)
At least Pelf didn’t fall off the mound….
He got beat by a team that owns him going up against one of the best Pitchers in the game, who had the lowest ERA last year.
I was puzzled as to why he didn’t throw one Sinker to Buck until I read the pitch he hit out was a Sinker that didn’t sink.
On to game 2.
Ceetar
4/2/2011-10:13am at 10:13 am (UTC -4)
Keith and Ron were talking about how he was throwing real hard to buck, overthrowing so to speak, no changeups, and that’s why it didn’t sink.