(AP Photo/Seth Wenig) via ESPN.com
The Mets won a slogfest in Citi today, to sweep the rival Marlins, and improve to three games above .500.
It was another one of those pitching duel slogs today at Citi, with Jonathan Niese and Ricky Nolasco both pitching quite well. Niese really dominated for the first four innings before allowing Miami to string together a couple of hits in the 5th, but even then he did good enough damage control. That first run was a bit of a message to Jose Reyes, as it involved a leadoff triple (eh-herm) and an RBI from the Mets shortstop (EH-HERM!), Ruben Tejada.
Well yeah, I forgot to mention the home run by Gaby Sanchez in the 3rd, but I mean let’s just pretend that didn’t happen, hooray for Jonny Niese! The game continued to slog along (is that a verb? it is now) until the 9th, which would be full of excitement.
The best place to start off is in the top of the 9th with one out, 1st and 3rd and Reyes at the plate. he hits one to Ike, who daringly throws to second to try the double play, and beautiful turn by Rubes and Reyes was (questionably) out at first base. The bottom of the 9th was rather sloggy (adjective as well), as the Mets would load the bases with one out for Justin Turner, down by one run. After an epic 13-pitch at-bat ended with a walk, the Mets had tied it. Scott Hairston would ground into a force out, setting the table for everyone’s favorite rookie, Captain Kirk. He would not disappoint as he would hit one to the warning track in right, to win it for the Mets.
Couple of notes if you’d like to keep reading.
I have to look at the numbers, but the Kirk must hit quite a few balls right down the line at first, as Gaby Sanchez played Kirk in front of the base, and right on the line. Keith was disgusted. Looks like on that last hit, Sanchez was a bit too shallow. I joke I joke, I kid I kid.
Although I missed the first few innings, it appears as though Niese had his good curve today, as he threw it nearly 10% more than usual (28%). The cutter must have been vice-versa, as we rarely saw it today, just 11% of his pitches were of the cutting variety.
Ike Davis got a hit and reached base twice, so that’s hopefully a good start for his slump busting 10 game hitting streak (when it happens, can’t say I didn’t call it). REALLY gutsy call to try that DP, and it certainly looks like his game isn’t lacking confidence.
Guys, Heath Bell was really dreadful, he couldn’t throw a strike at all in the 9th, and had to defer to using only his fastball. When you are only throwing fastballs to major-league hitters (even if they’re Justin Turner), they will either hit them, or take them if they are a ball.
Well, a sweep against Jose Reyes and the Marlins is nice, but a sweep in Colorado would be even nicer. Chris SchWINden on the mound tomorrow versus Drew Pomeranz in Colorado.
25 comments
Mr North Jersey
4/26/2012-4:16pm at 4:16 pm (UTC -4)
CAPTAIN KIRK!!! Yeah baby how sweep it is!!!
Mets 3rd walkoff win and I believe they only had 2 all of last year.
Give credit to Terry Collins the Mets play hard they have scratched and clawed this entire series” This said by the Marlins announcers.
Where to begin? Yes the offense continues to be a concern Ike hang in there your better than your current batting average. Niese a great start to keep us in the game. Turner’s at bat was simply Amazin. The positives once again has to be the pitching especially keeping Reyes off the bases for most of the series. Ozzie has already said he has considered swapping Reyes with Bonifacio and don’t be surprised if after this series he does it. Also huge props to Turner for fighting through that at bat and finally Capt Kirk ripping that Bell pitch for the game winner.
LGM!!!
Stick
4/26/2012-4:20pm at 4:20 pm (UTC -4)
oh oh. cue the pouting to begin!
Stick
4/26/2012-4:17pm at 4:17 pm (UTC -4)
dang, wish I was able to watch this game. Had gameday up for the 9th, sneaking peeks during a CF. Looked exciting.
and screw anyone who said this team doesn’t have heart, grit, balls or interest in playing and winning.
srt
4/26/2012-4:27pm at 4:27 pm (UTC -4)
Outside of a classic pitching duel between Niese and Nolasco, practically the whole game was the 9th inning.
The one run we got in the 1st was due to some MarLOLins defense as well, even though it doesn’t show up in the box score as errors.
Prismo
4/26/2012-4:18pm at 4:18 pm (UTC -4)
Unbelievable.
Also, longest 2-run inning without a pitching change of my life.
SaltyGary
4/26/2012-4:23pm at 4:23 pm (UTC -4)
What a great game. Bell came in sweating hot dogs, and blew it big time. He was all over the place. Turners AB was what one the game. AWESOME!!!
SpencerRealDirtyMets
4/26/2012-4:26pm at 4:26 pm (UTC -4)
I thought the team showed some GRIT, and that they can carry their WEIGHT.
SaltyGary
4/26/2012-4:34pm at 4:34 pm (UTC -4)
You’re wild.
srt
4/26/2012-4:25pm at 4:25 pm (UTC -4)
‘The best place to start off is in the top of the 9th…’
Pretty much the whole game was the 9th inning.
You are correct, Spencer. Niese had an outstanding curve today. Another quality start for him.
That bottom of the 9th was unbelievable. Holy Hell, that Marlins BP looks bad. Good for us though. Turner’s at bat was great and gotta hand it to Kirk.
Love the sweep.
Only downside to today was the news Terry gave after the game. Pelf heading down to see Dr. Andrews and surgery is likely. He’ll have it down there. Sucks.
Good luck to you, Mike.
Stick
4/26/2012-4:31pm at 4:31 pm (UTC -4)
at least it is a definitive answer. no months of limbo, will he be back, etc.
srt
4/26/2012-4:33pm at 4:33 pm (UTC -4)
And apparently the speculation is he’s been pitching with that tear for some years. Gives a whole new meaning to the Pelfrey description of ‘durable’ and ‘innings eater’.
SpencerRealDirtyMets
4/26/2012-4:42pm at 4:42 pm (UTC -4)
!!!!!!!!!!
NJstuckinTX
4/26/2012-4:27pm at 4:27 pm (UTC -4)
Torres who?
Stick
4/26/2012-4:33pm at 4:33 pm (UTC -4)
well, not an issue until bay comes back. so in a way, get to try Torres out to see if he is any good. Then he can fight bay for a job when he returns.
but no way in hell can they send Kirk down.
NJstuckinTX
4/26/2012-4:39pm at 4:39 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed. He’s here to stay.
I’m really liking the Kirk/Tejada/Murph/Wright top 4 at this point. until Ike or Duda can become what we hope they would (or even a shadow of that!), I think this is the best.
SaltyGary
4/26/2012-4:37pm at 4:37 pm (UTC -4)
Miami is now 7 games out of first and 3.5 out of the second WC spot. Gonna have to sell that fountain to pay some bills!
Stick
4/26/2012-4:52pm at 4:52 pm (UTC -4)
aren’t they making a killing off of jersey sales? i would have figured that most of south beach is walking around in those snazzy jerseys and hats.
gategem
4/26/2012-7:46pm at 7:46 pm (UTC -4)
Believe me those girls in South Beach look great in those jerseys. In fact the team name on the jersey is totally irrelevant.
gategem
4/26/2012-6:38pm at 6:38 pm (UTC -4)
A great win, no doubt.
I doubt very much if any message was sent with Tajada’s lead off triple. Reyes is too busy counting his money. Such ideas as sending a message with a lead off triple is reserved for fans and bloggers.
Except for TC managers seem to live and die with their closer. Last night Don Mattingly stayed with his closer who gave up six line shots, the first one was right at the right fielder and the only out Javy Guerra was able to get in the top of the ninth. The third line shot deflected off Guerra’s glove and struck Guerra in the right cheek. He somehow stayed in to give up three more hits. BTW a real message was sent by Lindblom when he relieved Guerra by hitting the first batter he faced. Anyway today Ozzie stayed with Bell even though Bell couldn’t command his curveball or fastball and the one thing these Mets hitters do well is work the pitcher and not swing at bad balls. The Mets will take the walk if you give it to them. In back to back games they took four walks in an inning in each game to force in a run. Nice.
BTW Mets fans have cried about umpire calls going against them but are silent when one goes their way. I’m sure in South Beach there are a handful of fans (that’s about all that actually follow baseball down there) crying about the call on Reyes. Actually Reyes was safe and it was not even close. So chalk one call for our side.
SpencerRealDirtyMets
4/26/2012-7:10pm at 7:10 pm (UTC -4)
Haha I think Ike was due to get one to go his way. And I wasn’t necessarily saying they were trying to send a message, just that it was symbolic that they filled Jose’s role to be the “sparkplug”
Mr North Jersey
4/26/2012-8:19pm at 8:19 pm (UTC -4)
Asked about throwing so many pitches in the inning, Bell said: “Apparently our trainer says I work too hard. … I’m out busting my ass every single day on the tread mill, the bike, working, looking at the video. Maybe I need to listen to him and stop working so hard.’
Bell wouldn’t elaborate on whom he was referring to, but his remark was the first public sign of discontent on a team off to a 7-11 start after breaking camp with high expectations.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/marlins/miami-marlins-closer-heath-bell-blows-lead-again-2327351.html?cxtype=rss_marlins
Mr North Jersey
4/26/2012-8:23pm at 8:23 pm (UTC -4)
“I was throwing pitches that I thought they were going to swing at,’ he said. “The scouting report says they are really aggressive so I was trying to keep the ball down. It wasn’t that I wasn’t trying to throw strikes. I was trying to keep the ball down.’ – Heath Bell after blowing save vs Mets.
I read this and had to laugh. In some circles this couldn’t be any further from the truth.
saltygary
4/26/2012-8:46pm at 8:46 pm (UTC -4)
Oh man they got the wrong scouts. Look I’m not a part of the club you are referring too, but they don’t seem too aggressive at all.
Hazmet
4/26/2012-9:03pm at 9:03 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, it’s like somebody forgot to read the memo on Sandy’s position on OBP and taking pitches to work out walks while increasing the starters pitch count. Here’s to hoping the Marlins share that scouting report with the rest of the league so we can get some more wins under our belt.
srt
4/26/2012-9:41pm at 9:41 pm (UTC -4)
This is too funny. What year’s scouting report on the Mets are the Marlins looking at?