Jul
6
2012

Los Mets Rally Cut Short In 8-7 Loss To Cubs

An article by Former Writers

Every pitcher has one of those days, and today, Johan had one of those days. Mets just cannot seem to beat the Cubs as they couldn’t finish their late inning rally, losing 8-7.

Johan Santana simply just did not have it today. And unfortunately, he didn’t have enough back up to cushion the blow. He gave up seven earned runs, five runs being from three different homeruns he gave up to total thirteen allowed hits. First batter of the ball game, Reed Johnson, takes the first pitch for a ball, and sends the second pitch over the wall. After the Mets took the lead, Santana gave up a solo run in the fourth, followed by five runs in the fifth thanks to homeruns from Anthony Rizzo and Jeff Baker. Santana’s demise would end there as he gets pulled after only four-and-two-third innings pitched.

Santana threw 89 pitches in his short start, allowing those seven runs on thirteen hits. His only high point being that he didn’t walk any, and struck out six. The seven runs is a season high for Santana. The thirteen hits allowed by Johan match his career high. His ERA is now 3.24 and gets his fifth loss of the season.

Ramon Ramirez has shown up in rare form. He’s been mostly an unreliable reliever this season but tonight he was great. Two-and-a-third innings of shutout relief only giving up one hit and one walk. However, Miguel Batista did not fare as well as Ramirez. With one out, he gave up a base hit, a walk, followed by back-to-back hits to allow a run in the eighth inning. Batista took the ninth, gave up one hit, but got his three outs.

It was a close one down to the end. Down by four runs in the ninth, the Mets did everything they could to come back. Kirk strikes out, Jordany Valdespin with another pinch-hit solo homerun, walks from Tejada, Murphy, and Wright to load the bases, Ike Davis with a pinch-hit two-run single to right. Mets bring it within one, runners on first and second with one away, Lucas Duda at the plate and…right back at the pitcher for a double play to end the game. Tease.

Other offense being from Ronny Cedeno and David Wright who both had a double and an RBI in the game. Lucas Duda with his twelfth homerun of the season. Mike Nickeas with a sac-fly RBI, and Justin Turner who had a four hit night with a double and an RBI.

Game Ball

Justin Turner going 4-for-4 on the night, tying his career high.

Notes

Andres Torres is day-to-day with a back strain. Probably back after All-Star break.

Jordany Valdespin’s twitter account says that he is “the man right now.” And he is as he continues to be a closer’s nightmare at the plate.

Up Next

Dillon Gee faces Jeff Samardzija and the Cubs to continue the last series of the first half. First pitch at 4:10 PM.

On a brighter note…

Wright, Collins, and Dickey show off their 2012 All-Star jerseys

About the Author: Former Writers

6 Comments + Add Comment

Mr North Jersey July 7, 2012 at 12:25 am

Good recap Dave. “Johan Santana simply just did not have it today.”

Back2Back starts where our 1-2 guys pitched poorly. We are 1-1. Coming back when your starter gives up 7 runs is never easy with any MLB team and Wood has to get at least some recognition for holding the Mets at 3 runs.

Kirk vs the lefties continues to struggle though at least he didn’t K tonight.

Win the final 2 vs the righties and try and head into the break 8 games above .500.

Then the Mets really need to take care of this roster in particular Quintanilla who is not playing and wasting a roster spot that can better be used. The last 7 days he has like 1 at bat. Not to mention what they will do when Frank Francisco & Jason Bay get back.

LGM!
- Mr North Jersey July 7, 2012 at 12:27 am
  
  “…at least he didn’t K tonight.” Scratch that 1/SO.
Fonzie13 July 7, 2012 at 1:43 am

I was at tonights game as well as the night before in the great comeback game. I thought they were going to pull it out after Ike’s big PH. From where I was standing at the Shea Bridge for the 9th it looked like Duda’s shot was heading right up the middle. Tough way to end a great comeback.

Terry Collins continues to turn my stomach. Is he going to bench both Ike and Murphy against every LH starter? WTF is he benching both of them on the same night. Wood is tough on Lefties but both Ike and Murphy have been coming up with big hits since that 17 run breakout game against the Cubbies last week and Ike has been getting big hits for the better part of 3 weeks now.

He played Ike against lefties early in the year when he couldn’t hit his way out of a wet paper bag and now that he’s locked in he gets the night off against lefties.

Not too mention leaving Johan out there way too long and having a bromance for Batista. Why did they bring up Beato to pitch once a week? I can never figure this guy out. Leave your damn hot hitters in the damn lineup. And on an alarming note is Kirks inability to hit anything above 90 MPH. he has slider bat speed. Either that or he guesses way too much. He gets beat by the heater too much for a young hitter.
- oleosmirf July 7, 2012 at 9:13 am
  
  those big hits have been coming up against RHP though. Ike has been downright awful against LHP all season. Murphy hasn’t been awful, but he’s still not hitting them either.
  
  You can’t fault Terry when his entire team (except Tejada and Wright) are only able to hit against one side of the plate
srt July 7, 2012 at 8:41 am

Johan certainly didn’t have it last night but even still, could have won this game if not for the defense. Johan should have been out of the inning before most of the damage was done if not for defense.

Turner should never play first and Duda in RF is a defensive problem. I’ll give each props for effort but neither plays that position well. If Terry doesn’t want to play Ike against tough lefties – which I think basically is a mistake – then at worst Murphy should play first and put Turner at second. Too many mistakes in the field led to extra runs.

Playing a man short in the BP – when the BP is as bad as ours – is another mistake. One that leads to Batista pitching in the 8th in a non blow out game. How big was that one run he gave up when it was all over?

That’s just for starters. Could throw Nickeas and Kirk at the plate in there as well. Also, carrying Q when he’s hardly used is just a mistake as well.

Might be too many holes to overcome this year.
rzanca July 7, 2012 at 10:48 am

Some night! Was there with my family. Glorious night for BB.

Folks are right about t.C.’s mistake in failing to replace JS much earlier. Should have been lifted after Rizzo’s blast. Alas. Then Batista. Head scratching.

Since it was Latino Heritage night I wonder if it didn’t play a role in playing Cedeno. Yep, lineup wAsn’t most intimidating.

Nicks just can’t hit.

Still, as much as I hate life when our Mets lose, that ninth inning was spectacular. For the 3/4 of crowd that stayed Citi was rockin’!!!

My kids and wife were going bananas. Such fun, if just cut too darn short.

Let’s come back strong and win today. LGM!!!

NL East Standings

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB
Braves	24	18	.571	-
Nationals	23	20	.535	1.5
Phillies	20	23	.465	4.5
Mets	16	24	.400	7.0
Marlins	11	32	.256	13.5

Last updated: 05/18/2013

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