Yankees Jump All Over Johan In Mets 9-1 Loss

In his first start since the no-hitter a week ago, Santana, on six days rest, gets slammed by the Yankees. He makes it only five innings allowing seven runs (six earned), on seven hits including a career-tieing four homeruns. Two homers being from Robinson Cano, and three straight homeruns in third in the bandbox known as Yankee Stadium.

It was the extra days off that ailed him, along with having his schedule changed with extra media and press as any pitcher faces after throwing a no-hitter. Of course the poor defense behind him and no run support didn’t help either. I understand the extra days off with the Mets wanting to protect their ace and his shoulder, but yikes!

Also, huge to mention that during the no-hitter a lot of his outs were down below the knee and in. Tonight, he was high, down the middle, and lowered velocity. Exactly what the Yankee hitters wanted. He was able to settle down for the fourth and fifth inning, but was taken out after 86 pitches. Hopefully after all this pitching rotation jumble settles down, Johan can return to his old self and be the ace that we all know he is. He walks away with his third loss and a 2.98 ERA.

Elvin Ramirez came in for relief and walked three batters in his first inning, yet not allowing a single hit or run. In his second inning of work, he walks the first batter, gives up a double, a sac fly, a ground out, an RBI double, an RBI single and then finally gets taken out. 1.2 innings, three runs on three hits, four walks and no strikeouts for the 4-A pitcher with a 13.50 ERA.

Miguel Batista picks up the last out of the seventh inning no problem. Jon Rauch fighting back form his injury pitches a scoreless, one-hit eighth inning. There was no ninth inning for the Mets bullpen.

Shockingly the Mets were almost no hit themselves tonight as Hiroki Kuroda went 5.2 innings without allowing a hit until Omar Quintanilla broke it up with a two-out double. Mets continue not to get hits as it took them again until two outs in the ninth when Duda hits an RBI double to score the Mets first and only run. A total of one run on two hits. Now that is embarrassing.

Mets totaled nine strikeouts tonight with a pair from each Nieuwenhuis, Duda, and Ike Davis.

Looking at averages now, David Wright has trickled down to .357, Murphy at .286 which ties Kirk, Ike Davis a measly .158, and Bay’s first game back from injury and illness is at .226. Jeez!

Notes

Johan Santana had an ERA of 13.00 in Yankee Stadium entering today. After leaving, it went down despite six runs. Strange game.

Former Met, Ryota Igarashi, got promoted by the Yankees today to make his Yankee debut to finish his former team. Thanks Iggy.

Omar Quintanilla is still suffering from an injured finger.

Game Ball

Omar Quintanilla and Lucas Duda with the only two hits for the Mets.

Up Next

The Subway Series continues as Dillon Gee faces the Yankees and Phil Hughes. Game time 7:15 PM on Fox.

Thoughts from Joe D.

Terry Collins blamed himself for what happened and said his overreaction was what cost the Mets this game. Collins said his pitcher Johan told him several times that he was fine and didn’t need all this extra rest, but that he refused to listen and wanted to error on the side of caution. He now wishes he didn’t.

Johan was completely rusty and out of sorts, it was hard to believe this was the same pitcher we saw last Friday. This overreaction by Collins was completely over the top and it ended up having to pitch Hefner in an emergency start against the Nats that we lost, then he even wanted to pitch Dickey on three days rest, which Dickey said no way. I mean this was so ridiculous and completely avoidable and we might have two extra wins in the win column if not for this post no-hitter fiasco.

Santana said after the game tonight that he feels great and he was just rusty, and that he felt great three days ago as well. “I keep telling them that I’m back, and that I’m fine”.