Daniel Murphy continues to get the job done offensively regardless of his position on defense. Since May 26th Murphy is hitting .355 (last 50 starts). Tonight was more of the same as the booth called it a line drive hitting display by Murph, 3/4 with 2 RBI.
On the mound, Niese was sharp… until the 5th. Niese gave up a lead off walk, followed by a one out single to Stubbs and a 2 RBI double to Renteria. Then Votto smashed his 14th HR to left field to give the Reds the lead. While Niese was pounded for 4 runs that inning, I was impressed how he was able to come back and finish the inning retiring Phillips and Bruce on ground outs.
While the Mets had given up the lead in the 5th they struck back right away in the top of the 6th. The inning was started by the deadly walk to Jason Bay. Paulino would reach and wind up at 2nd after the shoddy Reds defense botched a force play at 2nd. The walk and error came back to haunt the Reds as Jason Pridie slashed a double to RF plating the 2 gifted Mets.
After holding the Reds in the bottom of the 6th the deadly lead off walk would arise again. This time to Beltran. Wright singled pushing Beltran to 2nd and bringing up Dan the Man. Murphy delivered yet again with a single to CF scoring Beltran. After a single from Paulino leaving runners at 2nd and 3rd, Wright would be gunned down at home on a force out off the bat of Pridie. Pagan, fresh off his fatigue battle hit a single CF plating Murphy and giving the Mets a 3 run cushion.
Little did the Mets know their offense was done for the night and the short handed pen would have to hold the 3 run lead for 3 more turns AB. Here the string puller Collins would earn his keep. Iggy came in and with his new found refound splitter pitched a scoreless 7th and had 2 outs in the 8th before giving up a run on Fred Lewis single scoring Chris Heisey. Beato relived Iggy to get Stubbs to fly out. To start the 9th the Mets handed the ball back to Beato who retired Renteria before giving up a single to Votto. With a runner on 1st Phillips hit a double play ball that was mishandled by Reyes and thrown away by Turner, Phillips went to second on the error. They did manage to get at least one out at 2B. Byrdak came in replacing Beato and showed lots of emotion retiring LH Jay Bruce on a strike out to end the game.
The Mets finish the game 52-51 and the Reds fall to 50-53. Only because of the division could the Reds and the Mets be in such different situations. On a side note it is interesting that even with this not so good start from Niese he was able to get the win because of the fact he was able to battle back after the Votto HR to get the next two guys to close the inning.
Tomorrow’s game features an interesting match-up of Mike Pelfrey vs Bronson Arroyo. Both pitchers have pitched well below their expectations, Arroyo the worse of the two. Check out the preview here.
13 comments
Anonymous
7/27/2011-3:40am at 3:40 am (UTC -4)
The Mets really seem to get screwed a lot by the division. ALl those years with the braves, now the phils.
would be nice for a change to be in a patsy division where 1 game over .500 keeps you right in the mix!
Anonymous
7/27/2011-12:42pm at 12:42 pm (UTC -4)
Consider residing in a division with the Yankees and RedSox. Those teams dominate their division year in and year out. But as they say the worm turns. In 1973 the Mets were the recipient of being in a weak division. Over the long run it evens out.
Fans in every sport cry about the unfairness of having to play in a strong division but I have no sympathy for teams residing at .500 not being a contender. It is particularly galling when your team has an outstanding record and still misses the playoffs in favor of a mediocre team playing in a weak division.
Anonymous
7/27/2011-3:42am at 3:42 am (UTC -4)
I said it in the other post, but that boy Murph can hit. Wish he could get more time at 2B, assuming there still is a man named Ike in the Mets organization that can play 1st…
Anonymous
7/27/2011-4:06am at 4:06 am (UTC -4)
Yes but what about Turner, where does he play. It is so nice to have more, instead of less.
The Mets are going to have one of the very best bench players in the majors.
TRS86
7/27/2011-4:17am at 4:17 am (UTC -4)
Turner will still get some time next year filling in. By the way, welcome to TRDM.
Anonymous
7/27/2011-12:58pm at 12:58 pm (UTC -4)
Honestly, Turner can sit on the bench or even the minors (or trade bait). I think that Murph’s D + Bat is greater than Turner’s. Not saying Turner sucks or anything, but Murph’s proven to me that he can be a Magadan of sorts with a .300 average, 15-20 HRs and 60-80 RBIs. Turner hasn’t showed me enough consistently to think he can do that.
Assuming they sign Reyes, you’ll have Havens (if ever healthy), Tejada, Murphy, Turner all for 2B… And agreed, having more options vs. less is something that this team hasn’t had much of for a while.
And as TRS said, welcome to The Dirty.
MetsFan4Decades
7/27/2011-3:42am at 3:42 am (UTC -4)
That line score doesn’t really tell the whole story. 3 errors for the Reds? By my count it was at least 5 – but I’ll take it.
The only time I can remember where they starting opposition pitcher gave up considerably less runs than our starting pitcher yet they lost.
But hey, no complaints here – I’ll take it.
Go Pirates!
MetsFan4Decades
7/27/2011-3:44am at 3:44 am (UTC -4)
And on that note, McCann hurt tonight and going on the DL.
Chipper came back one day and has another injury.
Braves step up their seriousness for Beltran?
TRS86
7/27/2011-4:05am at 4:05 am (UTC -4)
They made an interesting point on MLBN about the McCann injury. Not only does it show a need for the Braves but gives hope to the teams below them in the WC. Thus maybe Arizona, Pitt or the Brewers could look to add players as well.
Anonymous
7/27/2011-11:35am at 11:35 am (UTC -4)
hard to say, but I never was as convinced as some people that the Braves were some kind of inevitable dynamo.
Various issues going on (holes?) so they certainly had the potential with 1-2 bad breaks of turning into the 2008 Mets!
Anonymous
7/27/2011-12:33pm at 12:33 pm (UTC -4)
The Braves strength is their pitching and a team can
tolerate losing position players and contend if their pitching staff holds up.
Anonymous
7/27/2011-11:34am at 11:34 am (UTC -4)
Man, that ump last night at home in the Pitt-braves game certainly gave the impression that he was tired of squatting, and was going home no matter what!
I can’t recall seeing a play that badly botched. Ever.
Anonymous
7/27/2011-12:45pm at 12:45 pm (UTC -4)
The ump probably called a cab and it was outside with the meter running.