Jul
20
2011

Game Recap: Reyes Return Ignites Offense, Izzy Notches Save In 4-2 Win

An article by Sean Kenny

The return of Jose Reyes and big hits from Daniel Murphy and Angel Pagan, in addition to a great start from Dillon Gee secured the Mets a win, 4-2 against the Cardinals

Game Notes

Dillon Gee went out, and in his first start since the All-Star break, pitched a gem. Gee went seven innings, allowing two runs on three hits, walking two and striking out two. Gee was pulled after 96 pitches, and he looked good enough to possibly go into the eighth, but was pulled. Gee looked in control the whole game, and outside of the moonshot home run he gave up to Lance Berkman, only gave up two hits. Hopefully, Gee can rebound because his last two pre-break outings weren’t very pretty.

The bullpen today consisted of Parnell and Isringhausen. Parnell went out for a full inning, gave up two hits and hit a batter, but struck out one. Parnell was either nervous, or just not locating that fastball down in the zone. Closer by committee moments to worry about: one. Isringhausen came out for the ninth and pitched a clean inning to notch his first save as a Met since 1999, and first MLB save since 2008.

The offense today was quiet until the top of the fifth inning, when singles by Reyes & Turner and a walk by Beltran left the situation open for Angel Pagan to hit a two-RBI double. In the sixth, Daniel Murphy atoned for lining out with the bases-loaded the inning before with a double to center field that scored two more runs. The offense obviously missed Reyes for the last 16 days, and missed Beltran for the last few.

Reyes/Turner/Beltran – 7 for 13 with two walks and all four of the Mets runs. They get on base, they score runs. It works.

Ronny Paulino – 3 for 4 – The guy is apparently hitting righties now too. One of Alderson’s better finds.

Jason Bay – 1 for 4, one strikeout. Had a good hit, then look bad in the rest of his at-bats.

Turning Point

Daniel Murphy double in the sixth inning, providing Gee with some breathing room to go out for the seventh inning. Without it, Berkman blast in seventh ties game.

Game Ball

Carlos Beltran, 3 for 3 with two walks. Can’t do much better then .1000.

On Deck

The Mets will look to keep this going, facing up against Kyle McClellan and the Cardinals tomorrow night at Citi Field, and will send R.A. Dickey to the mound. Game time is 7:10 P.M.

About the Author: Sean Kenny

Sean Kenny is a student/writer currently attending school at the City College of New York. For more Mets news, notes and thoughts follow him on twitter @TheSeanKenny

9 Comments + Add Comment

Midwestern Met July 19, 2011 at 10:31 pm

Great win. Welcome back guys. And Izzy’s started a party like it’s 1999!

http://midwesternmet.blogspot.com/2011/07/game-96-mets-4-cardinals-2.html
srt July 19, 2011 at 10:47 pm

Now that’s what I’m talking about.
russell Zanca July 19, 2011 at 10:00 pm

The only thing that made this 4-2 score close was Berkman’s cannonball shot. Metsies dominated; should have had at least six runs, but a win’s a win, and, however briefly, wonderful to see the marquee players back in action.
Lifelongmetsfan July 19, 2011 at 11:06 pm

Nice win! Beltran looked well rested.
Lifelongmetsfan July 19, 2011 at 11:09 pm

I hope Beltran goes to the Giants so I can watch him on that awful SHOWTIME embarrassment, “The Franchise.” Good Lord! What a horrible show that is!
- alex68 July 20, 2011 at 7:21 am
  
  sean kenny, as usual, spot on, great game recap. many things to point out, but only one stood out, JOSE REYES. his spark, smile, offensive and defensive game carrie this team, this is the man that might save the mets from futility this year, great game by gee (another omar player), also, BELTRAN, wow.. that is all we need in the middle of the lineup, but in the next 5 games ,money saving sandy will get rid of him for “suspects” i mean, “prospects”.. again, wright will be here friday, i wanna see that lineup again, at least one last time, but money saving sandy will trade beltran while on the road, he’s THAT smart, he wouldn’t want the mets fans to tune out while at home, let’s hope for another win tonight, but, it doesn’t matter whether we win or lose when our gm decided to rid of our all stars..
  Parnell was either nervous, or just not locating that fastball down in the zone”
  really sean kenny?? really?? get used to this, a lot.. this man was saved by reyes, that inning had implosion written ALL over!!!! but, the good thing was, pujols is not pujols for some reason..then, double play AFTER s great play by jose..
  - NYMetsfan July 20, 2011 at 7:36 am
    
    Another day ending in Y, another post of how you just don’t understand a thing about the game.
    
    Getting rid of Beltran has nothing to do with money but actually building a team for the future? You are so smart you’d rather keep him, and get nothing in return and still finish the season in 3rd place with no PO Spot. End of year, he’s gone, we are still 10 games out and we got nothing in return.
    
    PURE GENIUS………..
    - alex68 July 20, 2011 at 8:49 am
      
      nyyankeefan,
      
      can’t we keep him AND add players to help this team??? but noooo, you rather futility starts NOW, good luck watching this team having a jose reyes and 24 guys the rest of the year…
sarge July 20, 2011 at 3:30 pm

This game and others past might have been easier wins if not for Bay’s propensity to make outs with RISP on a continuing basis. How many more games might Mets have won or even not needed the services if Bay could at least bring in runners consistent with his lifetime BA?

Beltran as much as I would love for him to stay is another knee injury away from being a boondagle of a contract for Mets, if they did sign him. He will always be the best CF we ever had and he has helped to keep this year competitive but when season is over he will walk with Mets getting no compensation, as other teams wanting him know, so unless we go on a serious run with the return of David on Friday then I say trade him to team most desperate for a bat to get back at least some quality vs nothing in off season.

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