For the second straight outing, Tim Redding gave up only one earned run. Fortunately, he didn’t have to face Pedro Martinez this time around. Redding’s mastery of the Nationals and some timely hitting by David Wright and Jeff Francoeur in the seventh inning helped the Mets snap their season-long six-game losing streak. Today’s final score was 3-2.
Redding shut down the Nats so completely that the only hit they were able to muster off him through the first six innings was a bunt single by leadoff hitter Willie Harris in the fourth inning. He tired a little in the seventh inning, giving up the tying run on an RBI single to Adam Dunn, but the Mets bailed him out when Wright and Francoeur hit back-to-back doubles leading off the bottom of the seventh inning. A much-needed insurance run came around to score when Adam Dunn butchered (bucknered?) a Daniel Murphy grounder to first.
Sean Green allowed the Nats to trim the score to 3-2 when he made a throwing error on what would have been the third out of the inning. Luckily, Perpetual Pedro (has Gary Cohen trademarked that monicker yet?) came into the game and was able to retire Adam Dunn on a grounder to second.
The Mets did not even break a sweat in the ninth inning as Francisco Rodriguez pitched a 1-2-3 frame with two strikeouts. In picking up his 32nd save, he helped give Tim Redding only his third win of the season against six losses.
Ever since Redding was moved back into the starting rotation on August 22, he has been excellent. In his six starts, he has given up three runs or less five times. Unfortunately, he has been the victim of poor run support. Other than the 10-3 Mets victory on August 27, they have scored only eight runs in his other five starts. His ERA over those six starts has been a solid 2.72. If Redding is making a case to be a Met again next year, he is surely not failing in his effort to do so.
Another hot player who played well today was Jeff Francoeur. He doubled twice today, with the second two-bagger driving in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning. He is now hitting .318 as a Met, raising his season average to .280. Over his last ten games, he has been particularly scintillating, hitting .475 (19 for 40). In those 40 at-bats, he has more doubles than strikeouts (six doubles, five strikeouts). If there’s a multi-hit game to be had, Frenchy is a top candidate to grab it.
Tomorrow could be a big day at Citi Field. With a victory over the Nats on Sunday, the Mets will clinch fourth place in the National League East. Grab your silly string in anticipation of the celebration. John Maine will make his second start since his return from visiting Pai Mei for all those months. He will be opposed by Garrett Mock of the Nationals. Game time for the potential clincher is at 1:10 PM. I wonder if the police officers on horses will be there as well in case the crowd gets out of hand if the Mets win…
It’s looking like Tim Redding is the only real pitcher of the so-called Fab3 or Fab5 or whatever it is. Parnell is now out of the rotation and Figueroa and Misch have pretty much reverted to expectations. However, Reding may an affordable option for nest year’s starting rotation. In any event, he pitched a very nice game today and put a stop to the Met’s downslide (for the time being anyway).
There has been no recap of yesterday’s 6-5 loss to the Nats in which the Mets came up 1 run short after a big comeback which proved to be a tease to Mets fans. The GOAT award needs to be made for that game. So here it is.
GOAT for yesterday’s loss is Peflrey having given up 5 runs with 2 HR’s and putting the Mets behind and just out of reach of the W.
GOATS for the 2nd Half are: Parnell, Pelfrey, Cora, Perez, Pelfrey, Santana, Niese, Green, Pelfrey, Pagan, KRod, LHernandez, KRod, Parnell, Pagan, LHernandez, KRod, LHernandez, Parnell, Tatis, Misch, Perez, Parnell, Murphy, Pelfrey, Stokes, Parnell, Pelfrey, Stokes, Pagan, Redding, Misch, Parnell, Tatis, Valdez, Murphy, Misch, Murphy, Figueroa, Pelfrey.
GOAT Repeaters: Parnell(6), Pelfrey(6), Pagan(3), LHernandez(3), KRod(3), Misch(3), Murphy(3), Perez(2), Stokes(2), Tatis(2).
The race for the GOLDEN HORNS tightens up, with Parnell and Pelfrey now in a dead heat, but with Parnell out of the rotation, Pelfrey must now be considered the favorite to win this prize. We also have a tight race for Dishonorable Mention going on behind the two leaders, with Pagan, KRod, Misch and Murphy trying their hardest to get the honor. Fortunately Livan is no longer with us to challenge for the DM.
Speaking of Livan, he has accused the Mets of dropping him to cut off his opportunity to qualify for performance bonuses. The way this season has been, that probably was the basis for cutting him and not his deteriorating pitching performances. So no big surprise there.
I am Met fan from the very beginning. And outside of Casey Stengal this may be the most losses that the team has.
Yet there was a time that I started to not pay so much attention to them, then all of a sudden I found good reasons why I should.
Hopefully next year Reyes And Wright is right next year. Because Beltran sure is looking good and I feel he will still remain good. Castillo next season can remain just as he is doing this year.
Yet quite of few of players that started after they was hurt are becoming interesting to watch.
And there was a time this year that it was real hard to watch them play because of the injuries. They had to play with the bench and at times with AAAA and even below that this year. Yet!
Although Murphy was struggling and then he did good after they put him on 1st base. And there is a good chance that he could be a 300 hitter, and with some pop into it. And he works so hard to learn his trade.
Sullivan is looking good enough to be on the team.
Pagan is also looking as though he could also be a 300 hitter, and do it in LF.
Redding is starting to look like he could be a starting pitcher.
Francoeur is like WOW!
Cora did so good as a replacement.
Valdez looks like he can be a very good bench player.
Thole is looking like it may not take very long for him to make the team.
Yes the starting staff still remains worry some. Hopefully the team can find a real #2 pitcher, if so then it is my point of view that from those on the team now they could come up with the 3,4,and 5th starters.
And if a good deal could be made for Delgado, I feel that he did not lose his ability yet.
Who knows they may be pretty close to the team for next year right now.
Don’t let Redding fool you. He is far too inconsistent and he’ll want more money. It’s easy to pitch when you have nothing to lose.
Ed – I nearly fell off my seat when I read the last line about the police officers on horses lol. I love your recaps.
If Redding were to resign for $3 million dollars or less, I don’t see how the Mets can’t roll the dice and bring him back. As far as a fifth starter goes, he would be one of the top guys in the league. Remember, that Minaya signed him knowing he was untested after surgery and he started the season on the DL trying to recover. When he did come back he looked terrible and his velocity was way down. As the season wore on he regained his arm strength and now he’s at the very least, a very servuiceable major league pitcher that would fit the bill in the number five spot.
I’m undecided on Redding, William makes good points. For $3MM I’d resign him. We could do alot worse, but the upside could be huge.