And so Jonathon Niese took the mound in the first start since signing a five-year extension with the Mets. One might say it was his resurrection into the core of the Mets.
The Mets took an early lead in the bottom of the first, when Tejada led off the inning with a deep double to left-center field. After reaching third with a Murphy ground-out, Tejada scored on a David Wright sac fly – giving him a big ribbie in each of the Mets’ first three games this year.
Murphy got his chance to touch home in the bottom of the fourth, when Jason Bay flied out with the bases loaded and no one out. However, the inning’s momentum was quickly squashed as Wright made a base-running blunder on the same play, getting himself thrown out at third.
The Mets’ lead was again extended the next inning by a two-run scoring double thanks to Daniel Murphy, who was in some way involved in each run the Mets scored this afternoon. With a four-run lead mid-way through the game, focus shifted to Jonathon Niese who hadn’t yet allowed a hit.
Three more runs for the Mets in the bottom of the 6th would make it a 7-0 lead with Niese’s no-hitter in tact heading into the 7th inning. But with one out and a man on first, Freddie Freeman broke up the no-no with a single to right field. Niese would soon exit the game and the Braves would go on to score a total of 5 runs between the 7th and 8th innings, putting a Mets’ sweep in doubt.
Frank Francisco took the mound in a save-situation in the 9th inning, looking to become the first Met ever to record three saves in the first three games of the season. I think we can all agree it’s a far better record to claim than a lame old no-hitter. Francisco came through with a 1-2-3 ninth, allowing the Mets to claim a 3-0 record for the first time since 2007.
Consequently, the Mets also swept a 3-game series against a division rival to start the season for the first time ever. We’ll save the no-hitter for another day…
38 comments
Mr North Jersey
4/8/2012-4:05pm at 4:05 pm (UTC -4)
Mets sweep their division rival. That is worth an “Atta Boy!!!”
Niese looked good (heck he was throwing a no-no) until they got to him in the 7th. The pen continues to pitch well despite the 1 solo hr by McCann.
Tejada looked real good at the plate.
Hairston and Murphy with some nice doubles.
Players still feeling each other out on the field with Capt Kirk bumping into Duda and Cedeno with Tejada.
Duda lost that ball in the sun but it happens. He had the shades on at least.
LGM!!!
Stickguy
4/8/2012-5:19pm at 5:19 pm (UTC -4)
well, in the first 2 games, Bourne (of the 2 gold gloves) looked like he had never played OF before.
gategem
4/8/2012-7:32pm at 7:32 pm (UTC -4)
Well at least Duda didn’t fall on his keester and the ball didn’t hit him on the head. He was backpedaling on his heels so it was a disaster waiting to happen. More and more Duda reminds me of Ron Swoboda in the field except Swobdoa had more speed and constantly lost his cap.
Prismo
4/8/2012-4:38pm at 4:38 pm (UTC -4)
Pirates with their second walk off against the Phillies in two days. How glorious is this season so far?
Mr North Jersey
4/8/2012-4:41pm at 4:41 pm (UTC -4)
Nice…
srt
4/8/2012-5:12pm at 5:12 pm (UTC -4)
This, along with Bell blowing the Marlins game and……..THEEEEE YANKEES LOSE!
Stickguy
4/8/2012-5:20pm at 5:20 pm (UTC -4)
starting to look like the 2006 runaway all over again!
OK, too much too soon?
Mr North Jersey
4/8/2012-5:42pm at 5:42 pm (UTC -4)
-SMH
The only way to reply to that is to summon a Billy Madison scene.
PS
saltygary
4/8/2012-5:52pm at 5:52 pm (UTC -4)
I know a couple other commentors this can be used for.
oleosmirf
4/8/2012-8:01pm at 8:01 pm (UTC -4)
jajajajaja
gategem
4/8/2012-7:33pm at 7:33 pm (UTC -4)
Just enjoy it!
saltygary
4/8/2012-5:02pm at 5:02 pm (UTC -4)
Is it too early to stare at the standings?
darknova306
4/8/2012-5:08pm at 5:08 pm (UTC -4)
Might as well stare at them now, cause they could get ugly by the summer…
ConnorUAF
4/8/2012-6:34pm at 6:34 pm (UTC -4)
It’s never too early! I like to look at them before the season starts.
Stickguy
4/8/2012-5:17pm at 5:17 pm (UTC -4)
I missed a good one I see (was in the car all day., currently in a hotel room on the beach in Nags head). And I guess Neise might be worth the money.
At least this start to the season should give some of the overly negative crowd (oh, how can the Mets ever win a game in this division!) cause for pause.
srt
4/8/2012-5:50pm at 5:50 pm (UTC -4)
One of the days we might get that no hitter. Every time a pitcher loses that no-no, the lot shutout always follows right behind it.
I’m liking the new Mets. But the catch phrase of the day needs to be ‘I’ve got it’.
gategem
4/8/2012-7:38pm at 7:38 pm (UTC -4)
The curse of Jimmy Qualls strike again. The Gods of Baseball must have decreed on that fateful day that a Mets no hitter will not take place until all those alive on that day no longer wander the earth.
ConnorUAF
4/8/2012-6:36pm at 6:36 pm (UTC -4)
Niese looked impressive, but he just ran out of gas. Terry said afterwards that no matter what, (even if no-no was still alive) he would’ve pulled Niese. I agree with that. It’s too early in the season to be stretching out arms to 120-125 pitches, especially with a young guy like Niese.
saltygary
4/8/2012-7:07pm at 7:07 pm (UTC -4)
Yea, he definitely ran out of gas and I think the Duda error, got him out of his mindset. He started trying to do too much after that.
gategem
4/8/2012-7:48pm at 7:48 pm (UTC -4)
And gas is extremely expensive these days.
kingman 26
4/8/2012-7:45pm at 7:45 pm (UTC -4)
Not really much that could have been better about this 3 game series.
Win 2 of 3 against Davey and we can begin serious optimism.
“Niese-ter Sunday.”
I always have liked that Prismo kid.
Damn, it is good to have him back.
And the anti-Wright battalion of morons must seriously be having conniptions.
saltygary
4/8/2012-8:13pm at 8:13 pm (UTC -4)
Anyone else see that Miami is already apologizing for Guillen’s I love Castro remark to Time magazine?
“There is nothing to respect about Fidel Castro. He is a brutal dictator who has caused unthinkable pain for more than 50 years. We live in a community filled with victims of this dictatorship, and the people in Cuba continue to suffer today.”
Jeez, only a week in. This boat is going to sink folks. Up next, a Zambrano cage fight.
kingman 26
4/8/2012-8:52pm at 8:52 pm (UTC -4)
Who’s Castor? The oil guy?
Yeah, it is looking like a major train wreck after 3 games.
Ceetar might be right for the first time.
Then again, maybe not.
And believe it or not, while I am NO fan of Fidel, the US-sponsored fascist degenerate who preceded him was MUCH worse, for Cubans, Americans, and humanity.
Fulgencio Batista—great name, yes, horrible corrupt revolting scumbag whose sadistic rule was responsible for Castro being able to take power–also yes…history often sucks, but as much as Castro sucks, his predecessor in 1959 sucked even more.
gategem
4/8/2012-9:44pm at 9:44 pm (UTC -4)
But Batista’s Cuba gave us Desi Arnaz and Xavier Cugat.
kingman 26
4/8/2012-10:41pm at 10:41 pm (UTC -4)
And the great depiction of it in Godfather Part II!
Hazmet
4/8/2012-9:26pm at 9:26 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah I posted the link to it last night when I saw it and thought the same thing. That didn’t take long for him to alienate the fan base.
Also, I know it’s only 3 games but I’m lovin’:
Reyes OBP: .284
Tejada OBP: .462
Nice game today for my sleeper pick for the year and a couple of good walks and patience at the plate in games 1 & 2. Just keep him from trying to hit the ball in the air and he could have a nice little season.
Mr North Jersey
4/8/2012-10:34pm at 10:34 pm (UTC -4)
Now it looks like protests are set asking for Ozzie to be fired.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/fl-marlins-boycott-castro-comments-0408,0,1219095.story
BTW at least 4 of the fish were seen rocking their Sunday best as they made their way to Philly for the upcoming series.
http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_baseball_marlins/2012/04/miami-marlins-quartet-of-players-in-pimp-tastic-attire.html
kingman 26
4/8/2012-10:39pm at 10:39 pm (UTC -4)
Classic right-wing neo-fascists.
Fidel is a tyrant, but yeah, the way to show how much you support democracy and freedom is to call for someone to be fired for something he said!
Does anyone remember what freedom means?
Mr North Jersey
4/8/2012-10:47pm at 10:47 pm (UTC -4)
Actually part of freedom is the right to assemble and protest for change. Of course Miami doesn’t have to act on the requests and I don’t expect them to but at the core the right to assemble and protest is one of the rights afforded to Americans. So long as it is done in a lawful manner.
kingman 26
4/8/2012-10:52pm at 10:52 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed 100%.
But I always find it ironic and funny when groups who say they advocate freedom and hate tyrants act as though others should not have the right to freedom of thought and speech.
Stickguy
4/8/2012-10:57pm at 10:57 pm (UTC -4)
similar to politicians/parties that run on the concept of protest for change, but once they get in power, do everything they can to squelch anything resembling protest.
Mr North Jersey
4/8/2012-11:00pm at 11:00 pm (UTC -4)
In it’s simplest form you are free to say what you want but you can also be held accountable for what you say and sometimes depending your position in life the risk of saying what you want can come at a price.
This is as old as the Bill of Rights. Personally I think this is just to get publicity by the group but that is entirely just speculation on my part.
He apologized for saying something rather dumb considering the city his team plays in and that should be enough. People make mistakes all the time. This should blow over by week’s end if I had to guess.
Saltygary
4/8/2012-11:38pm at 11:38 pm (UTC -4)
Wow, I should of stuck around after making that comment.
oleosmirf
4/8/2012-9:42pm at 9:42 pm (UTC -4)
Great series but let’s not get carried away just yet.
Prismo
4/9/2012-10:34am at 10:34 am (UTC -4)
Magic number is 159.
Ceetar
4/9/2012-10:44am at 10:44 am (UTC -4)
Win tonight lowers it by two.
Mr North Jersey
4/8/2012-11:37pm at 11:37 pm (UTC -4)
So I am catching up on highlights around MLB and just saw how the Reds won today’s game. It looks as if Hanley could of come up with that ball cleanly the runner on 3rd would of been out at the plate.
The question I pose is how many more of these plays before Hanley cracks and possibly starts rumbling about maybe not liking being put on 3rd?
If he cracks at all of course
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2012_04_08_miamlb_cinmlb_1&mode=video#/play?content_id=20460039.
srt
4/9/2012-7:54am at 7:54 am (UTC -4)
On MLB’s 30 in 30 for Miami, the ‘analysts’ predicted that Hanley wouldn’t be at 3rd come the ASB and one went on to say he wouldn’t be surprised if Hanley wasn’t in Miami by the trade deadline.
Hanley wasn’t the best defensive SS by a long shot. And looking at this play, simple as he didn’t get in front of the ball.