A New Niese On Life, Mets Win 3-1 Against Pirates

Jonathon Niese had a great bounce back outing after his last start, and the Mets scattered three runs in the early innings to take todays game from the Pirates, 3-1 and the series as well

Game Notes

Jonathon Niese looked spectacular today, going seven and two-third innings, giving up one run on five hits, walking two and striking out five. Niese was generating groundballs galore, and today was just one of those days when those ground balls weren’t finding holes. His pitch location was good, his control was excellent today as his second walk was to the second-to-last batter he would face.

The bullpen had a much shorter day today, with Bobby Parnell required for a key out in the eighth, and delivered as needed with a huge strikeout looking of Andrew McCutchen. Frank Francisco came out for the ninth, and pitched a clean frame with two strikeouts for his twelfth save of the year.

The offense today managed some hits, but most of the damage was done early. A Lucas Duda RBI single in the first scored Kirk Nieuwenhuis, and in the fifth a sac-fly by Captain Kirk drove home Rob Johnson, and David Wright continued his torrid hitting, scorching an RBI double off the 21 foot wall, missing a home run by about two feet. Kirk was the only Mets player to have more than one hit on the day.

Turning Point

When Bobby Parnell got the last out of the eighth. After a great throw behind the runner from C Rob Johnson, Ike Davis couldn’t handle it and it allowed the runners to advance to second and third. A single could have possibly tied the game, but Parnell flipped a nice pitch for the third strike looking.

Random Stuff

Daniel Murphy is on a 2 for 20 slide, dropping his batting average to .304. However, his defense has improved noticeably, and the double play turn is looking much better.

Ike Davis went 1 for 4, but is still hitting .159 – probably due to him striking out on a pitch that hit him. Ike also committed an error in a key situation in the eighth. As Joe D has mentioned…he seems to need a few days off, or a nice vacation in Buffalo.

Player Of The Game

Jonathon Niese – was one batter away from finishing the eighth inning, and was surgically disecting the Pirates today.

On Deck

The Mets will come home for a game tomorrow against the San Diego Padres for their longest home stand of the season. Jeremy Hefner will take the mound for his first MLB start, and he will face off against the Padres Eric Stults. Game time is 7:05 P.M.