Dillion Gee(8-2) was out dueled tonight by All-Star Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw was driven to deliver the Dodgers a win and pitched into the 8th to ensure it.
Baseball is one of those games when you can always see something for the first time. Unfortunately, I saw something for the third time tonight which was a blown call from an umpire who literally was on top of a play. It might have been the worst call I’ve even seen botched if it wasn’t for last night’s blown double play ball or the A-Rod phantom tag on Jose Reyes this past weekend. Tonight, it was the home plate umpire that would give the Dodgers the first run of the game by blowing a tag-up slide at the plate.
Besides that one incident, the game was shaping up to be a real pitcher’s duel. Both Kershaw and Gee worked through the next 3 innings. Gee was excellent through the first five innings but it would be the bottom of the 6th when the Dodgers sent nine men to the plate and scored 5 runs putting the game out of reach for the Mets. Kershaw seemed to get stronger and pitched all the way to the 8th inning where he finished his night by pitching out of a bases loaded jam.
The Mets loaded the bases again in the the top of the ninth but failed to score.
The final score: Dodgers 6 Mets 0.
I hate to say it, but I saw this coming. The Mets have been playing real good lately and were due for a bad game. When I saw Kershaw’s name last night as the next pitcher, I knew the Mets were in some type of trouble.
During the third and fourth innings, Sandy Alderson visited Gary Cohen and Ron Darling in the booth and addressed subjects such as the state of the team, Jose Reyes, K-Rod and even his draft picks. It was very interesting to hear first hand that Alderson does not expect Reyes back even after his 15 day stint on the DL. Sandy also remarked on how he likes the way the team and Terry Collins has performed so far.
Side Notes: Welcome back Manny Acosta! Tonight starts the All-Star pitchers run the Mets have to face in the next 6 games(including the 3 after the All-Star Break) Even though they lost, the Mets managed to load the bases and threaten to score in the both the eighth and ninth innings. I really like that even when they lose, the Mets don’t go quietly.
3 comments
metsfan4decades
7/8/2011-8:49am at 8:49 am (UTC -4)
Least they could do if I’m losing sleep watching these west coast games is win.
You’re right – that was one of the worst blown calls I’ve ever seen. Gibson was right on top of that play. Good thing we didn’t lose by that one run as I’d probably still be fuming.
Sandy in the booth was interesting. Since one of his last gigs included overseeing the umps for MLB, his ‘accountability’ comment was interesting. Brutal calls have become the norm anymore so changes are needed.
Not sure what happened to Gee come the 6th last night. Not like the Dodgers are a good offense team. His changeup was great thru 5. I’ll never quite understand how pitches can just ‘lost’ it from one inning to the next – unless it involves fatigue.
hazmet
7/8/2011-9:23am at 9:23 am (UTC -4)
That call was indeed brutal, and blown by the same ump that blew the call at first the night before. Unreal and painful when having to match up against Kershaw. I was pleased Dillon didn’t blow up there but those extra pitches in that inning probably cost him effectively pitching through the sixth imo. Reports are Dillon’s been battling through a deadarm period so it’s not surprising that when it went it went in a hurry in the sixth.
Sandy was great in the booth, my favorite comment on the umpiring: ” I’m not so concerned about the state of umpiring in the majors I’m more concerned about the state of umpiring in games the Mets are involved in”. Classic, I love this guy.
TRS86
7/9/2011-4:10am at 4:10 am (UTC -4)
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