R.A Dickey was on the hill attemping to get a win tonight in San Fran. Hard throwing Ryan Vogelsong, another All-Star pitcher (6-1), was his opponent.
This was a great game to watch because you literally had two distinct opposite pitchers on the mound. Vogelsong, who threw heat and Dickey, who threw 73 mph knuckleballs.
As a little promotion for the MLB Network, Al Michaels and Bob Costas came over to the SNY network and called the game for three innings. They were good but they just didn’t have that excitement and enthusiasm that Gary and Ron bring to the booth. They call a way different game, they talked more about the whole league and the game rather than the game in front of them. They were also amazed that Gary and Ron had no notes in front of them as they called the game. They did, however, make fun of Oliver Perez, which I thought was pretty funny.
It looked like the Mets were going to draw first blood in the top of the fourth inning when Carlos Beltran led off with double and was pushed over to third by Murphy’s sac bunt. Jason Bay looked like he was struck out but managed to draw a walk as well as Lucas Duda. But Josh Thole would hit into a double play and end the threat. In the bottom the inning, the Giants got on the board when Pablo Sandoval led off the bottom of the fourth with a double, was pushed over to third on a fielder’s choice and scored on a sac fly.
The Mets answered right back in the top of the fifth when Tejada led off with a single and was driven home by an Angel Pagan home run. Nate Schierholtz would tie the game with a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth that landed in the water.
Although he struggled with his command, Nate Vogelsong pitched into the seventh inning. The Mets did a great job working counts and raising his pitch count. R.A. Dickey pitched into the seventh, he battled every inning and even though he didn’t leave with the lead, he gave the Mets a chance to win the game.
Trade bait Tim Byrdak came in for the eighth and faced two batters-he struck out one and walked another. He was pulled for Pedro Beato, who came in and induced a double play ending another Giant threat.
Brian Wilson, whose beard is longer than I have ever seen it, gave up a solo shot to Scott Hairston. He then gave up a gift double to Angel Pagan and after a failed sac bunt by Murphy, was pulled for Jeremy Affelot. Pagan stole third base and Beltran pushed him home with a single giving the Mets an insurance run for the ninth inning. When the inning was over, the Mets sent 8 men to the plate and scored 3 runs.
K- Rod came in the and pitched a 1-2-3 save.
Side Notes: R.A. Dickey is an example of guts and grit. There he was, on the mound, in discomfort with his glut or foot and out throwing the young Vogelsong. He even busted it out every at bat. The Mets are lucky to have him as a player. Scott Hairston crushed that home run in the ninth. Dan Murphy had a three hit night.
6 comments
Sophie3
7/9/2011-5:47am at 5:47 am (UTC -4)
Who doesn’t like RA Dickey? Guy falls on the mound in the 1st in visible pain and just keeps going. Has to run the bases, trips and gets back up and out there for the bottom of the inning. Lucky to have him is right.
Love these bunch of scrappy guys this year. If it’s not one it’s the other getting it done on any given night.
Oh, and I’m sorry but Wilson’s beard is just ugly now.
Anonymous
7/9/2011-12:49pm at 12:49 pm (UTC -4)
now this looks like it was a satisfying game (though I was long gone before the end!)
man, a 4-1 start to a california trip for the Mets? Not the same old Jerryatrics here.
now being greedy, get at least 1 more this series, and cruise into the break on a high note.
the only bad thing is, now I have to root for the phillies this weekend.
Anonymous
7/9/2011-12:50pm at 12:50 pm (UTC -4)
oh, why more changes? now I got my discuss ID showing up!
and one downside, you can no longer see recent posts on the sidebar from inside a thread.
SRT
7/9/2011-12:58pm at 12:58 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, why no recent posts on the sidebar with this theme?
Made it very hard to find this post on last night’s game. It’s not listed below in recent posts either.
SRT
7/9/2011-1:00pm at 1:00 pm (UTC -4)
That and when you clicked on recent comments, it used to take you to that comment in whatever post it’s in. Now it doesn’t appear to be doing anything.
I like the ‘like’ and ‘edit’ options though.
SRT
7/9/2011-2:25pm at 2:25 pm (UTC -4)
SRT = MetsFan4Decades