Mets offense falls flat once more as R.A. Dickey gets hit for two homeruns against the Phils. Mets lose a rough one, 3-1.

R.A. Dickey pitched his heart out, but the offense fell flat for him once more and unlucky mishaps plagued them. A dropped third strike to Rollins in the first caused to be an issue as Dickey gives up a throwing error that moved him to third and then a sac fly brings him in for an early lead. Rollins scores again as he knocked a debatable homer into right field. The third run comes from a homerun by Domonic Brown in the seventh. Dickey gets his sixth lose despite only three runs (two earned) on five hits, two walks, and eight strikeouts in seven innings pitched.

The bullpen held it together as Rob Carson, Josh Edgin, and Ramon Ramirez combine for two innings with only one hit allowed.

Mets tally seven hits, but only one run in. A soft single by Murphy to knock in Mike Nickeas.

Mets also tallied 11 strikeouts and only one walk.

Game Ball

Daniel Murphy with the only RBI, with two outs at that.

Notes

David Wright, 1-for-4, down to .310 on the season. No longer mister .400.

Up Next

Game two of this series in Citi Field against the Phils continues tomorrow. Mets will have Matt Harvey, Phillies will have rookie, Tyler Cloyd (1-1, 4.95). Game time is at 7:10 pm.

Mets took game one against the Brewers thanks to a strong start from Jon Niese and bombs from Murphy and Duda. The offensive night led the Mets to a 7-3 victory in Milwaukee.

Jon Niese had a great start, and had strong offense behind him. He needed that offense early, as he gives up two quick runs on three straight hits in the second. Niese bounced back nicely with several more zeros to keep the Mets in the lead. Niese got pulled after the sixth when he started to tire, but still finished strong. His line ends with six innings pitched, two runs allowed on six hits, three runs, while striking out five batters.

Josh Edgin and Jon Rauch combine for a scoreless seventh. Bobby Parnell handled the eighth with two hits allowed, but no runs against him. Ramon Ramirez was given the ninth and allowed an RBI triple.

Mets had an offensive explosion tonight including a rare two homers in a game to total seven runs.

Daniel Murphy had one hit, a two-run homer, his sixth home run of the season.

Lucas Duda had a big night, two hits including a homer and an RBI double.

Josh Thole even contributed with an RBI double in the sixth. He also walked and struck out in the game.

David Wright also had two hits tonight with a run scored and two strikeouts.

Ruben Tejada, Ike Davis, and Andres Torres all had 0-fers.

Notes

David Wright is the only player left on the Mets with an average over .300 with a .315.

Game Ball

Lucas Duda. Welcome back.

Up Next

Jenrry Mejia has his first start of the season in game two of the series in Milwaukee. He will be up against Shaun Marcum and the Brew Crew. First pitch set for 7:10pm on WPIX.

The SNY feed of the disputable call at first base of Andres Torres touching/not touching first base.

Despite two long balls, the Mets just narrowly missed taking game one of this series against the Cardinals, thanks to a disputable call at first. Mets lose game one, 5-4.

Collin McHugh made his second career start today. He had a spectacular major league debut, but his second game wasn’t so great. He gave up a run in the first as he allows a triple to the first batter to face him. He allowed two runs in the third after surrendering four hits in the inning. And his fourth run came in the fourth inning after giving up a solo homerun. He was pulled after finishing the fourth, and allowed four runs on six hits, a homer, no walks and striking out two in 68 pitches. We’ve heard of sophomore year slumps, but this was a sophomore game slump. McHugh receives his first career loss.

Manny Acosta has greatly improved since being recalled up awhile back, as he throws two shutout innings, allowing just one hit against him. His ERA is still over seven though.

Robert Carson came in for the bottom of the seventh, hit his first batter, struck out the second, then came out of the game. Bobby Parnell came in, allowed Carson’s runner to score, then proceeded to get a double play to end the inning. After Parnell walked the first batter, Josh Edgin came in and pitches a one-two-three eighth inning with a strikeout.

Mets had to wait till the seventh for their first two runs as Kelly Shoppach lifted a two-out, two-run bomb to left field. It was just his eighth long ball of the season, but third as a Met. I think we’ll keep him around.

Daniel Murphy provided the next two Mets runs with his own two-run jack in the eighth. His fifth of the year. That’ll make people forget his error earlier in the game.

Ike Davis hit his 22nd double of the season, while Andres Torres hit his sixth triple, and Mike Baxter stole his fifth base.

Zach Lutz, part of the first batch of September call-ups, went 0-1 in a pinch hit role today.

Tomorrow morning headlines will read: ”Jason Bay got a hit.”

Game Ball

Daniel Murphy. A walk and a two-run homer. Nicely done.

Notes

In the top of the ninth, St. Louis called for a look at the replay to see if Andres Torres touched first after he hit his double. Umps ruled in the Cardinals favor. I disagree. The Mets-Cardinals rivalry seems to have reinvented itself this season with replays.

Up Next

Matt Harvey heads to the mound as he goes head-to-head with Jamie Garcia as the Mets play game two against the Cardinals in St. Louis. First pitch set for 8:15 PM.

Thoughts from Joe D.

That rookie umpire should be tarred and feathered!

That was a terrible call, absolutely awful, and on close calls like that the hitter always gets the benefit of the doubt.

This was just awful.

I feel bad for Torres who got screwed royally on this one… Should have been man in scoring position with no outs… It killed the rally…

Mets extended their losing streak to six straight after falling  3-1 to the Houston Astros tonight, despite a strong start by Jon Niese and career home run number 200 for David Wright.

Niese has been consistent in his last couple of starts and has kept up the recent string of good pitching from Mets starters. Seven strong innings for Niese where he gave up only three runs. He gave up two runs in the second on back-to-back doubles that gave the Astros the early lead. He threw blanks until the seventh were he gave up a solo homer to shortstop, Tyler Greene.

Niese had trouble getting out of the inning, but a great diving play and strong throw from Ruben Tejada finally got the job done. Hakuna Tejada. Niese would get pulled after that with his team down by two. He walked two, and struck out five in his 108 pitch start. Despite his strong start, the offense continues to fall flat.

Rob Carson got one out in the eighth and then Frank Francisco took over to finish the inning with two strikeouts. Manny Acosta got the bid for the ninth and got two outs before Josh Edgin came in to finish the inning

Mets offense has been non-existent tonight was no different.  Just one run on four hits and ten men left on base, including a runner on first and third with no one out situation. Terrible.

David Wright had a huge and memorable night at the plate. He had two hits, including his 200th career home run, and a single that he tried stretching into a double and got nailed. He’s now batting .319 on the season.

Justin Turner got the start at second, giving Daniel Murphy the day off. He had one hit and a HBP. Call him, maybe?

Ruben Tejada, Mike Baxter, Ike Davis, Jordany Valdespin, and Josh Thole all had 0-fers tonight. Ike walked twice while Thole is hitless in last 16 at-bats.

Game Ball

David Wright of course who continues to rewrite the Mets record books.

Notes

The Mets haven’t scored more than two runs in seven games now. Wow.

The Mets have fallen behind the Phillies and are fourth in the league, just ahead of the Marlins.

John Maine, who is with the Yankees’ triple-A team, pitched against Buffalo tonight. He allowed two unearned runs on five hits, two walks, three wild pitches, a hits batsman, and struck out three in six innings of work against our Bisons. He threw 101 pitches as well.

Joe D’s Mets Limerick

The Mets have a catcher named Thole.

Whose at-bats are rather unholy.

He plays with such grit, but can’t buy a hit,

And the worst part’s his defense is lowly.

(Sorry, Joe D. doesn’t do haiku’s.)

Up Next

The Mets continue their series against the Astros tomorrow in Citi Field when RA Dickey (15-4, 2.82 ERA) takes on Fernando Abad (0-0, 3.86 ERA) at 1:10 pm ET. Former Met, Fernando Martinez is likely to be in the starting lineup for the Astros .

You win one, you lose one. Despite an eleven hit attack, the Mets failed to hit with runners on base, leading to a 5-2 loss to the Nats and dropping another series.

Jeremy Hefner got the start today and after a very long rain delay, the game finally got underway. After a lead-off single, Hefner was able to strand the runner to retire the side. His second inning involved another lead-off single, followed by a two-run homer from Danny Espinosa. Hefner allowed another two runs in the third on a lead-off single, followed by an RBI triple from Harper and then an RBI single by Ryan Zimmerman. He went unscathed in the fourth, but in the fifth he was tagged by a solo homer from Bryce Harper. Hefner ends the night with five runs against him on eight hits, a wild pitch, a hits batsman, two homers, no walks, and three strikeouts in five innings of work. He gets his fifth loss of the season, and sees his ERA rise to 5.11 on the season.

Hefner is now the sixth man in the rotation, and with R.A. Dickey going twice before him, Hefner will now start once every seven days. He will also be doing double duty as Terry Collins says that two or three games in between starts, he will be the long man out of the bullpen. It’s gotten to the point where guys are just auditioning for 2013. And with Santana possibly being shutdown, there could be more rookies on their way up. Jeremy Hefner is a busy man these days.

Manny Acosta pitched a perfect 1.1 innings with two strikeouts. Josh Edgin gets two outs with one hit allowed, while Bobby Parnell gets a one-two-three eighth inning.

Mets had eleven hits today, but only two runs. They left 10 men on base, and were only 1-for-11 with RISP. Not how you win ballgames.

Wright, Hairston, Turner, Shoppach, and Cedeno each had two hits today. Ronny Cedeno’s two hits included a double and a lead-off triple in the fifth inning, but the Mets couldn’t score him. Disgrace.

Mets got their first run in the sixth with a lead-off Ike Davis double, moved over to third on a Cedeno fly out, and then an RBI groundout from Jason Bay. Their second run came in the eighth with a two-out RBI from Shoppach.

Game Ball

Ronny Cedeno for two hits, including his first Mets triple, plus he played great defense today.

Notes

The Mets have only won one game in each of the last five series, and have only won one series since the second half began.

Up Next

Mets head home to host a four game series against the Colorado Rockies. This is the second and last time the Mets will play the Rockies this year, and is the first series with them at home. R.A. Dickey will start for the Mets and will go up against the 2-6 Alex White. First pitch set for 7:10 pm.

Michael Morse connects for a grand slam against the Mets’ Johan Santana.

Mets just can’t keep any sort of winning streak going. Santana gets hit with two homeruns as Kelly Shoppach hits one of his own as Mets lose 6-4 to first place Nats.

Johan Santana is still plundering. Santana did go perfect through the first three innings with nine up and nine down. However, the fourth inning was anything but perfect. After allowing three straight hits without recording an out, Michael Morse took Johan deep for a grand slam. He was trying to pitch Morse in, but it stayed out and he paid for it.

The fifth inning was no better, as Bryce Harper hit a two-run jack off Santana. After the fifth, that would be all for Johan. Two homeruns cause him to have six runs tagged on him in five innings pitched with seven hits, four strikeouts and no walks. There still must be something wrong with Johan. He missed all of last year, and just recently came off the DL with another injury. The Mets will never say it, but he must still be injured and it is really affecting his performance. Johan has dropped to 6-9 on the season, only the second time in his career that he has gone three games under .500. His ERA is now 4.85.

Manny Acosta pitched a scoreless two innings in relief, allowing one hit, and walking two batters. Ramon Ramirez pitched a hitless eighth inning with one strikeout.

Mets jumped on the board early with two in the first. After David Wright singled, and Scott Hairston came up with a double with two outs, Daniel Murphy knocked in Wright and Hariston scored right after him on a throwing error from Bryce Harper. Mets third run came in the sixth with a ground out RBI for Ronny Cedeno, and the fourth run came with a solo shot from the newest Met, Kelly Shoppach, in the seventh. Welcome to the team, bud!

Scott Hairston had three doubles tonight, which ties a club record. The last to do so, was Lucas Duda last year.

Mets are still welcoming in their new catcher, Kelly Shoppach, as he goes 1-for-4 tonight with a solo homer, and two strikeouts.

David Wright had two hits tonight and is hitting .322 on the season, while Jason Bay went 0-for-3 and is hitting .155.

Game Ball

Scott Hairston once more for his three doubles tonight.

Notes

A couple of days ago, the umpires had R.A. Dickey remove his bracelets. Today, Davey Johnson complained to the umpire about Johan’s Gold Glove emblem on his glove, so he had to pitch the rest of the game with duct tape over it. Umpires these days….

Up Next

Mets play the middle game of this three game series in D.C against the Nationals. Jon Niese (9-7, 3.67) goes head-to-head with Edwin Jackson (7-7, 3.74). First pitch set for 7:05 PM on WPIX and MLB Network. Let’s Go Mets!

How would Upton look as a Met?

The trade deadline came and went without Arizona moving their best player who is still a couple of weeks shy of 25 years old. That shouldn’t surprise anyone. But the real surprise is that a player like Justin Upton was actually available. Upton went number one overall back in the unreal 2005 draft, ahead of Ryan Zimmerman, MVP Ryan Braun, Troy Tulowitzki, likely MVP Andrew McCutchen, Jay Bruce and Jacoby Ellsbury. By the way, those last three players were taken after the Mets drafted Mike Pelfrey. But at least the Mets have a shot to make up for that now.

Upton came up at 19 and took a couple years to start producing. Trout and Harper didn’t set the world on fire in their first seasons either. But once he did he became a top asset in baseball. Starting from his breakout 2009 to this season Upton’s OPS has been: .899 , .799, .898, .765. Obviously this is a special talent, but he’s also still putting it together. However he’s also signed until 2015, so he has time to work with coaches and figure it out before he cashes in on a big free agency pay day. For his career he hasn’t hit as well away as he has at home, but his OBP is always high. So yeah he will hit better in Chase Field, who doesn’t? I’ll still take a guy who hits .275 if he can still produce a .850+ OPS. And he’s a power/speed guy. Guys like that are perfect in CitiField. Upton also has the power to clear the Citi fences. If you look at this chart here, you’ll see Upton’s homers clear Citi’s dimensions.

What’s another great selling point is that Justin, and his brother B.J., are friends with David Wright. They grew up playing AAU ball together. Imagine a 2013 lineup that features both Upton brothers and Wright. A group of friends playing ball every day, keeping each other in check, and providing the Mets with some star power. B.J. is a free agent and always has had untapped potential, the lights of Broadway could bring the best out of him. And even if it’s only Justin the Mets go for, Wright finally gets some protection behind him again.

The best part is the Diamondbacks reportedly aren’t looking for prospects, they want players that can contribute now. So the Mets can hold onto Wheeler/Harvey and be able to make a deal for Upton. Justin isn’t having that great of a year, but he’s been hot lately going .283/.391/.435 the last 30 days. Sometimes you just have a bad start or a bad year.

Verdict: Players of Upton’s caliber don’t come around too many trade blocks. Make a deal for Upton that allows you to hold onto Wheeler/Harvey, send along Duda/Flores plus other pieces that are ready to help Arizona compete. Work with him and watch Upton blossom into that stud player everyone expected him to be. By not surrendering tons of key prospects you can take a shot here and not set your franchise back. And by taking this shot here you have a chance to land a 20/20 threat and a positive future for the franchise.

Matt Harvey, making his fourth career start for the Mets, was too wild and the Mets offense was shutdown in a 4-0 loss to the Braves at Citi Field.

Harvey was plagued by walks tonight, as he allowed five bases on balls. The Mets rookie used his fastball much more than in his last start. Through his first three starts, Harvey threw his fastball 45% of the time, tonight it was over 70%. Luckily, it didn’t cost him too much. The one time it did, was the first batter of the game, Michael Bourn, who walked and then later scored on a Jason Heyward home run. Harvey was throwing up blanks in each inning after that and finished with six innings, two runs , two hits and three strikeouts. But it was those five walks that was really his only downfall tonight. Harvey threw 101 pitches in his third loss of the season.

Ramon Ramirez pitched the seventh inning with a hitless outing with one walk. Josh Edgin did not have as much luck, giving up a two-run homer to Dan Uggla before being pulled after getting just two outs. Jon Rauch finished up the eighth inning and Bobby Parnell pitched a one-two-three ninth with a strikeout.

Not much offense for the Mets tonight, just three hits: a single from Murphy and doubles from Rob Johnson and Scott Hairston. Five strikeouts for Mets hitters, along with zero walks.

Notes

Matt Harvey walked five batters, that tied the most he has allowed in any minor league start for him this season. Harvey also took a come-backer off the thigh, but was fine and stayed in the game.

Game Ball

Scott Hairston, because well…he’s Scott Hairston.

Up Next

Mets play game two of this three game series against the Braves on Saturday with Johan Santana  making his return from the disabled list. He goes up against Kris Medlen and first pitch is set for 7:10 PM.

Mets finally win their second straight game in July. Scott Hairston launches two, and Jason Bay touches the plate three times in a late night offensive battle against the Giants. Mets end up on top, 8-7 in ten innings.

Despite what the scoreboard says, Jeremy Hefner did well tonight. He just got pulled a couple batters too late. The game was tied at two entering the sixth inning, and Hefner strikes out the first batter to start it off right. He gives up back-to-back base hits to have runners on the corners. A run comes on a force out, and then two hits later, the second run follows. Other than that, he pitched pretty well. He’s had to pitch out of jams a couple times as he gave up two hits, but only allowed two scattered runs before the sixth. Either way, Hefner will still be starting until Santana returns. Hefner’s final distraught line ends up being: 5.2 innings pitched, four runs on ten hits, three walks and struck out five on 92 pitches. He gets a no decision.

The bullpen never rests with the Mets. Ramon Ramirez finished out the sixth inning after a walk. Tim Byrdak gives up a hit and strikes out two in his inning of work. Jon Rauch pitches a flawless one-two-three eighth inning on just seven pitches.

Mets first two runs in the fourth off a two-run double from Ronny Cedeno that knocked in Hairston and Bay. They would have to wait until the eighth inning to score again as Jordany Valdespin gets a lead-off, pinch-hit single, and then gets followed by a two-run homer from Scott Hairston to tie up the game, his thirteenth of the year. Yeah, I think we’ll keep him.

To continue their offensive inning, Ike gets hit by a pitch, then replaced Bay at first on a force play. Justin Turner comes up big with a two out, pinch-hit RBI double to give the Mets the lead again. Rob Johnson continues to play well since being called up again as he hits an RBI single to score Turner.

Things got uneasy in the ninth as Bobby Parnell came in to try to close it out…Immediately surrenders a hit and then an RBI double to Posey…Then after finally getting an out, with the tying run on third, Terry Collins pulled Parnell from the mound. Nightly bullpen antics.

Josh Edgin comes in and gives up an RBI double into right field after the ball deflects off Ike’s glove. We’re no longer in the days off Ike diving over railings to make a catch anymore. What a whiff. Edgin then strikes out Brandon Belt, walks a batter, gives up a single to former Met, Joaquin Arias. Finally the monster inning ends on a strikeout to Marco Scutaro.

Scott Hairston continues to show why the Mets highly value him as he hits his second homerun of the game in the tenth inning, now with fourteen dingers. Rob Johnson then knocked in Jason Bay on a fielder’s choice to get an insurance run.

Manny Acosta got the call to finish out the game. He walks the first batter, gets an out, walks the next batter, gets the second out, then gives up an RBI single, and then finally gets the last out with Valdespin making a nice catch in center field on the warning tracks. Never an easy night.

David Wright with one hit and two strikeouts. He’s trying to do too much. Ike Davis with the golden sombrero of four strikeouts. Jason Bay with one hit, three runs, two walks, a stolen base, and one strikeout.

Game Ball

Scott Hairston with two big homeruns, three RBIs and a stolen base on the night. Don’t leave us.

Notes

This is the first game the Mets are playing in San Francisco, and the former Giant, Andres Torres, got a standing ovation.

In the fifth inning, Andres Torres slid into first base to beat the play and avoid a tag. He got trampled by Bumgarner, and it looked to be Torres stubbed his right thumb on the ground in the collision. He seemed okay, and stayed in the game.

Mike Baxter is back! He had a hit in his one at bat.

There was speculation that the Mets could go after Geovany Soto from the Cubs. He was traded to the Rangers. Still no moves for the Mets.

Up Next

Matt Harvey gets his second career start and it’s up against former, two time Cy Young winner, Tim Lincecum (4-11, 5.88 ERA) and the Giants. First pitch is set for a late 10:15 PM. Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets tried to keep the wins coming, but Jon Niese was no Matt Harvey out there. Despite two Mets homeruns, they were decimated in a 11-5 loss to the Arizona D-Backs

Jonathon Niese with one horrific inning, put up several unwanted numbers in his line tonight. The second inning started with a simple 6-3 ground out. That quickly turned to bases loaded with just the one out. Niese then walks former Met, Henry Blanco, for the first run, which was followed by an RBI single and then three runs scoring on the throwing error from Niese. After all the dust settled, six runs came across to score against Niese, and that inning would later become the difference in the game. A run in both the fourth and fifth inning, gave the D-Backs extra insurance as well.  Niese ends the night with eight runs, only six earned, on nine hits and one walk in six innings of work. Niese also struck out five, in his lengthy 113 pitch start.

The Mets bullpen didn’t fare much better in the name of Elvin Ramirez. One inning of relief, allowing three runs on four hits that really put the Mets away. Newly recalled Manny Acosta pitched a one-two-three inning with a strikeout.

Mets had more offense than they are used to this second half with the big blow coming from a three-run homerun from David Wright in the third inning. His sixteenth of the season with 70 RBIs on the season.

Ike Davis also had a homerun in the second inning, a solo shot to right field. His seventeenth of the season, and he now has 57 RBIs, despite just a .207 average.

The only two-hit night from the Mets, belongs to the hot bat of Ruben Tejada.

Jason Bay and Josh Thole had the only 0-fers, combining 0-for-8 on the night.

Notes

David Wright now with 795 career RBIs, tying J.D. Drew on MLB’s all-time list.

Game Ball

David Wright who doesn’t ever seem to give up.

Up Next

Chris Young tries to prevent another lost series as he faces the Diamondbacks’ Ian Kennedy. First pitch set for 8:10 PM.

For the second game in a row, the Mets go to extra innings, and the bullpen implodes. This time it was Beato again who falters and ruins Chris Young’s solid start as Mets lose 8-2 in ten innings.

Chris Young pitched the game the Mets needed him to pitch. Arguably his best start of the season as he goes seven strong innings allowing only two runs on three hits. Those two runs came off the bat of the rookie phenom, Bryce Harper, in the first inning. This series is the first that Harper has seen Citi Field, and he made himself comfortable quickly. Young brought his A-game as he threw four one-two-three innings out of the seven he pitched. Seven total strikeouts to just his three walks on the evening. Unfortunately, the Mets bats continue to falter as they couldn’t get enough runs to earn Young the win he pitched so well to deserve. He ends the day with a no decision and now a 3.91 ERA. Thanks for the hopefulness,  Chris.

Josh Edgin and Jon Rauch combine for the eighth inning, neither pitcher allowing a hit, with a strikeout for Edgin. Bobby Parnell pitched a scoreless ninth inning with one hit allowed.

In the tenth inning, Tim Byrdak came in, and gave up a lead-off base hit, followed by an error by Tejada, which should have been a double play. Byrdak was then taken out for Pedro Beato who allows four earned runs on four hits, a walk, and a homerun. Two runs (one earned) go to Byrdak. Byrdak later gets the loss. Beato who only got one out, had to be saved by Elvin Ramirez as he gets the last two outs to stop the bleeding.

Once again the Mets get plenty of hits (eight tonight) put could not get them home, as they only score twice on the night. David Wright and Ike Davis supplied the two runs, with solo homeruns each. It was the fifteenth of the season for both of them.

Daniel Murphy continues to dominate at the plate with two more hits tonight, a single and his thirtieth double of the season.

Ruben Tejada also had a hot night with the bat, as he tallies three hits to up his average to .318 on the season.

Jordany Valdespin was not the man tonight, and neither was Jason Bay as they both went 0-for-4. Valdespin grounded into two double plays on the night as well.

Kirk Niewenhuis, who is in danger of being demoted for Matt Harvey, goes 0-for-2 with a K. At least he didn’t strikeout three times, like Ike Davis did tonight.

Notes

In the tenth inning, Ruben Tejada committed an error, not catching a ball thrown to him by Byrdak. During the play, Tejada got spiked by Roger Bernadina, and was taken down. He had a small gash in his right shin, but stayed in the game.

Game Ball

Chris Young did an excellent job. He didn’t get the win, but he gets the game ball.

Up Next

Mets and Nationals have a great pitching match-up as R.A. Dickey (13-1, 2.84 ERA) will go up against Gio Gonzalez (12-5, 3.32 ERA). Hopefully the Mets can turn this series around. First pitch set for 7:10 PM.

After the Mets narrowly avoided being swept by the Nationals,they open up the Dodgers series with another loss as Santana delivered another lackluster performance. Murphy and Valdespin were great, but the rest of the guys could not capitalize so Mets lose tonight 7-6.

Johan Santana does not like pitching in the second half so far. Another rough start as he allowed six earned runs on seven hits, two homers, two walks, while striking out three in only three innings pitched. If you are not worried about Johan by now, you should be. He is having a rough July. in three starts this month he hasn’t pitched pass the fifth inning, and has allowed  a whopping six runs in each of those three starts. He has allowed a total of six home runs in that span, that’s more than he allowed in his five starts in June. He has had a winless June, and his ERA…well let’s just say it’s through the roof. Santana losses his seventh game of the season and now has a 3.98 ERA.

Pedro Beato pitched two hitless innings, while striking out one. Ramon Ramirez also picked up two innings as he allowed one run on two hits, one walk, and struck out three. That one run was really the difference maker. Tim Byrdak and Jon Rauch combined for two scoreless innings and three stikeouts.

How in the world is Jordany Valdespin not starting everyday? If there was such a thing, he would win the MVPH (Most Valuable Pinch-Hitter) award. He has done it again with another pinch-hit, two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh that got the Mets within one run of tying the game. In the ninth, he stayed in as the left-fielder, and got a base hit and made it to second on a throwing error. The old saying of “Money Plays” is in force here as Bay continues to start over Valdespin in left field.

Daniel Murphy had an impressive night with four hits, including a double, an RBI and a run. Almost back up to what he was hitting early in the season as he is at a .297 batting average.

David Wright and Josh Thole both went 0-for-3 with a walk each, and three strikeouts combined. Wright is hitting .350, while Thole is hitting .270.

Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Ronny Cedeno, and Justin Turner all had one at-bat and all struck out.

Game Ball

Would have been Valdespin if the Mets capitalized on his big hit, however, Murphy’s four-hit night was impressive and gets the game ball.

Notes

Jordany Valdespin is still the man right now.

Ike Davis had one hit tonight. He has 61 hits for the season with 53 RBIs, hitting .207.

Up Next

Matt Harvey Miguel Batista will start Saturday for the day against the Dodgers and former Met, Chris Capuano. Game time is 1:10 PM on WPIX. Let’s Go Mets! Stop losing!

There were no injuries to any of the players.

The players however were stranded on the side of the road for quite some time as they waited for their bus to get fixed. Several of the players took to Twitter to talk about their traveling adventures and well…you can read for yourself.

#FridayThe13th 

We would hit a Semi during a 7 hour bus trip. Happy #Fridaythe13th. #FML

— John Mincone (@Jmincone) July 14, 2012

Who gets electricuted by an outlet on a bus.

— Matt Koch (@mattykoch20) July 14, 2012

Nothing like hitting a semi and the guardrail on the bus to wake you up for this 7 hr drive

— Beck Wheeler (@beck_wheelerr) July 14, 2012

@pevans28. Why ain’t yo mechanic ass ain’t fixing this truck?

— david wynn II (@Dwynn6one9) July 14, 2012

Even If we don’t make it to the bigs, at least I know a couple of my teammates can be stand up comedians #comedytweets

— Beck Wheeler (@beck_wheelerr) July 14, 2012

Just got in a collision with a semi… Good thing @dwynn6one9 was in his car seat

— Jay (@Jay_C_One) July 14, 2012

@b_welch21 I don’t trust people with an egg as there twitter picture..oh wait that’s just your head..

— Phillip Evans (@PEVANS28) July 14, 2012

You think dominoes delivers to the side of the freeway #stuckofI95

— Beck Wheeler (@beck_wheelerr) July 14, 2012

Movie “the Grey” is horrible & we just got in a finder bender with a semi. Stuck on the side of the road! 5 more hours till our destination.

— Kevin Plawecki (@kplawecki26) July 14, 2012

And yes everyone thanks for all the corrections. We got in a fender* bender, not a finder bender. #spellingbee

— Kevin Plawecki (@kplawecki26) July 14, 2012

@kplawecki26 we all know you haven’t won any spelling bee’s in your day…

— Phillip Evans (@PEVANS28) July 14, 2012

@dwynn6one9 Do you need a stack of phone books to see this movie were about to throw in?

— Phillip Evans (@PEVANS28) July 14, 2012

Been on the road for three hours but parked for two hours…so naturally I made a twitter #finally

— Stefan Sabol (@UceDeuces_22) July 14, 2012

“@dwynn6one9: @jmincone #fail.” likeYour growth spurts?

— John Mincone (@Jmincone) July 14, 2012

@dwynn6one9 you’re in a twitter time out. Sit in the corner and think about the absurdity of your tweets.

— John Mincone (@Jmincone) July 14, 2012

Your Brooklyn Cyclones … RT @jay_twennyfo: Just got in a collision with a semi… Good thing @dwynn6one9 was in his car seat

— Adam Rubin (@AdamRubinESPN) July 14, 2012

That’s absolutely hideous, I’m trying to see what row your in but the seat backs are over 3 feet tall, where you at Pooh Bear?

— John Mincone (@Jmincone) July 14, 2012

In the midst of all this I’m just worried about the entire starting rotation being deported… #nohablaingles

— Logan Taylor (@Loganreese36) July 14, 2012

Semi 1 Cyclones 0

— Tyler Vanderheiden (@CallmeVandy) July 14, 2012

There are no easy roads to the show. Sometimes a semi truck and guardrail get in the way.

— Tyler Vanderheiden (@CallmeVandy) July 14, 2012

I don’t think he purposely does it but it feel like everytime I talk to@ucedeuces_22 he wants to spit on me #suckeringsuckatash!

— david wynn II (@Dwynn6one9) July 14, 2012

@ucedeuces_22 translations= splease stop staking all the spenut sbutter!

— david wynn II (@Dwynn6one9) July 14, 2012

I’m on this bus almost in tears

— Jay (@Jay_C_One) July 14, 2012

This has got to be the funniest bus I’ve ever been on!

— Rob Whalen (@RobWhalen38) July 14, 2012

On this bus right now there’s is nothing but laughing and spanish mumbling… Why are we still not moving bro

— Logan Taylor (@Loganreese36) July 14, 2012

2 hours later… We are still sitting here on the side of the road.

— Rob Whalen (@RobWhalen38) July 14, 2012

Would like to give a huge shout out to the semi driver who made this night even longer.

— Matt Koch (@mattykoch20) July 14, 2012

Welcome back to the second half of the season, folks! Mets opened up their series in Atlanta against the Braves, and everybody is really missing Dillon Gee. Mets pitchers implode in 7-5 loss.

The night the lights went out in Georgia… After an early sixteen minute power outage delay in Turner Field, the ballgame continued and already the Mets were down 2-0 in the first inning. After Chris Young gave up an RBI single to Heyward that knocked in Bourn who doubled, he walked three batters that allowed the second run to come in. Young then gave up a three-run homer to the Braves backup catcher, David Ross, that put the Mets down 5-0 early in the game.

That would be all for Chris Young as he gets yanked for a pinch hitter. Only three innings pitched, five runs, three walks and six hits surrendered by Young tonight, and half of them were extra-base hits. It’s the shortest outing and most runs allowed by Chris Young since June, 2009 when he was with the Padres.Young threw 71 pitches on the night, with half being in just the first inning. Chris gets his third loss of the season, and a 4.28 ERA.

Luckily, the Mets bats zapped back to life with a four spot in the top of the fourth inning. David Wright with his 28th double of the season, followed by a Duda walk and an RBI double from Hairston gives them one run back. A two-run single from Kirk Nieuwenhuis puts them within striking distance, and then Ruben Tejada puts the Mets on the Braves heel with a two-out, RBI single. Hakuna Tejada!

Miguel Batista came in for relief, and he gave up a double to the first batter to face him, the pitcher, Tim Hudson. After back-to-back ground outs, with help from a great play by Tejada, Batista walked Heyward on four pitches, and then got Chipper Jones to ground out to end the jam. In the next inning, Batista got one out, then walked three straight batters before finally being pulled. Everyone will be watching Matt Harvey’s Triple-A start on Monday.

Josh Edgin made his major league debut to bail out Batista. Strikes out both batters with impressive sliders to end the fifth and got the Mets out a bases-loaded jam. Edgin proceeded to do well in his debut as he got two outs in the sixth, including another strikeout, before running into Chipper Jones, who hits a homerun into center field. That is Larry’s 49th career homer off the Mets. Welcome to the team, Josh! Edgin is removed after a double by Freeman.

Ramon Ramirez is up next, pitching 1.1 innings with an RBI single in the sixth, then getting a one-two-three seventh inning. Tim Bydrak and Pedro Beato combine for an inning with two walks from Byrdak and one from Beato.

Ruben Tejada, David Wright, and Scott Hairston all had two hits tonight. Wright with a double, a run, two K’s and a .353 batting average. Tejada with an RBI, a strikeout, and a .327 batting average. Hairston with a double, a run, an RBI, 2 K’s, and five men left on base. “He stinks!”

Ike Davis and Lucas Duda both had two walks each. Duda had two strikeouts, while Ike had one hit. Ike is keeping his head above water with a .203 batting average.

Josh Thole and Daniel Murphy combine for nine men left on base. Murphy with an 0-fer, Thole with a single, and a strikeout.

Notes

Mets had bases loaded, nobody out in the fifth inning. Hairston K’d, Kirk K’d, Thole flies out. Terrible job.

Mets pitching combined for 11 walks, that’s a season high.

Nieuwenhuis now has 87 Ks in 87 games. Mets record is 161 by Wright in ’10. Kirk is looking to lose playing time, so he won’t get there.

Andres Torres is back after not playing for a week with back woes. 1-for-2 tonight, with an RBI and a strikeout.

Chipper Jones has 1,594 career RBIs, which is third most in MLB by a third baseman. I have a feeling Wright will destroy that.

Game Ball

Josh Edgin, for being the only pitcher that didn’t walk anyone.

Up Next

Dickey starts his second half as the Mets continue to play the Braves, who have Tommy Hanson on the mound. Game time set for 4:05 PM on FOX.

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

It seems like the first two games in Chicago are just a blimp on the Mets memories these days as they continue to knock around the Dodgers. After a close game on Thursday, the Mets went back to one-sided ball games with an offensive explosion and another great start from R.A. Dickey.

R.A. Dickey continues to put up big bids on being the All-Star Game starter, and tonight is no different. He even teased us with another one-hitter. His first hit given up was in the third inning to pitcher Aaron Harang, arguably because Andres Torres was lackadaisical going after the ball. Dickey wouldn’t give up another hit until the seventh inning that ruined the one-hitter. He pitched masterfully the whole game but was pulled for a pinch hitter after eight scoreless innings. I’m sure he can’t be too happy about that decision, and I agree with him. He did throw 116 pitches, but could have easily finished the game.

In the end Dickey ends with eight shutout innings, only allowing three hits, one walk and ten strikeouts. That makes it five double-digit strikeout games this year for Dickey, the most in the majors right now. Dickey gets his NL leading twelfth win of the season and lowers his ERA to 2.15 on the season. Impressive.

Jeremy Hefner got the call to finish out Dickey’s amazing performance. He gave up a base hit to the first batter he faced, but gets the next three guys to fly out to end the game.

Mets had quite the offensive show tonight, capitalizing nine runs on fourteen hits. The hitting parade was lead by Ruben Tejada who went 4-for-5 tonight with a double, a HBP, two runs scored, and an RBI. He reached base five times tonight, a career high for him. He’s also hitting .318 on the season.

David Wright and Ike Davis both had one hit tonight. Both contributing with an RBI each in the third inning as well. David Wright is hitting .359 on the season while Ike is still just under the Mendoza line with a .198 batting average. Ike Davis did have an error in the game as he pulled a Luis Castillo with a dropped popup in the bottom of the fifth.

Before tonight, Lucas Duda had an 0-for-15 drought which he snapped with an RBI single in the fifth. He went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, an RBI, a walk, but also two strikeouts. Josh Thole also had two hits tonight and scored a run.

Daniel Murphyhadn’t hit a homerun in a year but now has three homeruns in three days as he hits a three-run dinger into left in the seventh inning. Combine that with his two-run double in the fifth, gives him five RBIs on the night. This matches a career high for him, last time was in 2009 against the Nationals.

Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Andres Torres were the only Mets without a hit tonight, both getting 0-fers. They both drew a walk, and both struck out twice. Kirk dropping to .271, while Torres barely beating Ike with a .208 average.

R.A. Dickey even joined the hitting parade with a base hit of his own in the seventh. He now has a three game hitting streak and is hitting .371 in that span.

Game Ball

R.A. Dickey with his amazing start and Daniel Murphy turning it back around with five ribbies tonight.

Notes

I think we are all happy Ruben Tejada is back. He has ten hits, three RBIs, and five runs scored in the six games he’s been back. Also, his batting average is higher than Jose Reyes, just throwing that out there.

R.A. Dickey in June: 6 starts, 5-0 record, 48.1 IP, 21 H, 0.93 ERA, 55 K, 8 BB, 3 CG, 2 shutouts. Also had those two, one-hit games.

David Wright is anxiously waiting to see if he was voted into the 2013 All-Star Game, hitting .359 should have made him a no doubter, but as of Thursday morning, he was slightly behind Pablo Sandoval. Teams announced on Sunday.

Aaron Harang hit Ruben Tejada with a pitch before being pulled from the mound. Dickey retaliated by hitting Dee Gordon. Just protecting his team’s players.

Aaron Harang was mentioned in R.A. Dickey’s memoir, “Wherever I Wind Up.” He was mentioned with the paraphrased context of “Thank you, Aaron Harang, wherever you are…Whenever I have a rough outing, I find somebody who had an even worse day than me…Harang gave up nine hits and seven runs in four and a third innings against the Rockies. Today he supplies the comfort. I feel less miserable for knowing this.” Some other pitcher out there might use this as well, as the Mets rocked Harang.

Earlier this season, Carlos Beltran joined the 300-300 club, and tonight had his 2,000 career hit. Congratulations, sir.

Oliver Perez has been sighted once more with Seattle against the Red Sox. Tossed two scoreless innings in relief. ERA is now 1.69.

Up Next

Johan Santana goes up against Nathan Eovadi (0-4, 4.4 ERA) as the Mets continue to play the Dodgers. First pitch set for 7:15 PM on Fox

Wright commits fielding error on infield pop-up.

After a rough Subway Series, the Mets traveled to Chicago to visit the great Wrigley Field to play the Cubs. Johan Santana started for the Mets and has been trying to regroup as he hasn’t pitched that spectacular since his no-hitter. He probably didn’t think he’d have a dueling war against the Cubs’ Travis Wood who only has one win this season and an ERA over four entering the game, but that was exactly what he had to do. Santana blinked first as after walking Geovany Soto with two outs, Joe Mather hit a two-run homerun over the ivory in left field to give the cubs a 2-0 lead. After getting his only one-two-three inning in the fifth, he had a nerve racking sixth. After back-to-back hits and then intentionally walking the bases loaded with two outs, he was able to get a ground out to end the side.

After throwing 102 pitches through six innings, he was pulled for a pinch hitter in the seventh. His line ends with two earned runs via that homer earlier, a total of five hits, three walks, while striking out six. He receives his fourth loss and now has an ERA of 3.00. It’s always terrible when Johan has a good start but no help from the offense. Throughout his six innings pitched, his offense only got him three hits and couldn’t score him a run. After Santana’s consecutive nine inning complete games, he hasn’t made it passed the sixth inning and has given up twelve runs in four starts.

Jon Rauch came into relief and was let down by his defense. David Wright started it off by committing a fielding error, then Rauch strikes out Reed Johnson, followed by a fielding error from Lucas Duda letting a run score and then a fielding error from Ronny Cedeno that allows another run to score. After Rauch walked Soriano, he was pulled to bring in Ramon Ramirez who makes his first appearance back from the disabled list. Ramirez allows two more runs to score that both get charged to Rauch before finally ending the tragic inning.

Justin Hampson made his Mets debut in the eighth inning tonight. He pitched a scoreless inning of relief, only allowing one hit, and striking out one.

The Mets offense was mostly absent. They only combined six hits between them and couldn’t score a run until two-outs in the ninth when Ike Davis hit a homerun into center field. Ike now hitting .191.

Despite his costly error and two strikeouts, Cedeno had two hits tonight. Like wise, Mike Nickeas had two hits, but struckout to end the game.

The other hit from the Mets was from David Wright who advanced his hit streak to 15 games. Wright is now hitting .358.

Notes

The Cubs have the worst record in baseball, and the Mets only got one run with six hits.

With Justin Hampson here now, the Mets finally have a second lefty in the bullpen to pair with Tim Byrdak.

Game Ball

Ike Davis saved us from a little more embarrassment.

Up Next

Dillon Gee (5-5, 4.27 ERA) opposes Randy Wells and the Cubs. First pitch set for 8:05 p.m.

Turner, Davis, and Nickeas celebrate Ike’s eighth homer of the season.

Jon Niese started tonight to start the series against the Yankees in the second round of the Subway Series. In the last round against the Yankees, Niese gave up no earned runs in seven innings of work which the offense couldn’t capitalize on. This time Niese had some strong innings but also some troubling innings, but he always found a way out unscathed. Unfortunately, the Yankees started feeling like they were back at Yankee Stadium, with a solo homer from A-Roid in the sixth inning and a solor home run from Andruw Jones in the seventh.

After some more trouble in the seventh, he was finally pulled from the game. He ends with two earned runs from two homeruns, giving up eight hits and one walk while striking out five in 6.1+ innings of work. He threw 106 innings in getting his fifth win of the season.

Bobby Parnell game in to rescue Niese in the seventh inning, getting two outs, one via a strikeout. Miguel Batista pitched the eighth inning giving up a two-run home run from Robinson Cano to put the game close at 6-4.

In to close, Frank Francisco game into the ninth and got his 18th save of the season despite a walk and a base hit. Cluck? Cluck?

Mets offense opened it up early putting a five spot in the first inning. After Lucas Duda flew out to shallow center with the bases loaded, there were two outs. Mets have made quite a season out of scoring with two outs, and continue to do so. Justin Turner finally getting some at-bats since returning from the disabled list and delivered with a two-run, two out single. The very next batter, Ike Davis, who continues to dominate since waking from his slump, hits a three-run, two out bomb to right field to go up five runs to none. After that both Mike Nickeas and Jon Niese tried to keep it going getting base hits, but the rally ended when Torres came up for the second time in the inning with a fly out.

After the first inning run burst, the Mets got blanked by Andy Pettitte until the seventh. The Yankees bullpen came in and David Wright extended the lead with an RBI double to knock in Omar Quintanilla.

Turner and Wright both had two hits tonight, with a double each. Combined with Ike’s homerun, they knocked in all six of the Mets runs. Wright now hitting .361, and Ike is still trying to get his average up, currently at .191.

Ronny Cedeno with his first game back since his DL and rehab stint, goes 1-3 with a run scored but struck out twice. Reminder of his average, it’s .235.

Andres Torres 0-3 with a strikeout tonight and left two on base. Hitting .207 on the season. Kirk needs to be batting everyday, even against lefties.

Notes

Mets have scored 52% of their runs this season with two-outs.

In his last four starts, Jon Niese has only given up six runs with 28 Ks in 26.1 innings pitched. Seems like the whole pitching staff is following Dickey’s lead.

Non-Mets related: Josh Hamilton has reached an agreement with a production company to possibly make a movie about his life story.

Game Ball

Turner and Ike for clutch hitting in the first, and Wright with his well needed insurance run in the seventh. Thank you, good sirs.

Up Next

Chris Young and Ivan Nova square off in the middle game of this Subway Series against the Yankees. First pitch scheduled for 7:15 PM on Fox.

After a sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays, the Mets laid an egg in a home series against the Red, dropping all three games. The Mets needed a bounce back series against Baltimore, who has been terrific the first few months of the season.

They did just that only alowing two runs in the three games and sweeping the Orioles at Citi FIeld.

Once again the Mets show their resiliency a resiliency that they have shown all year. Being able to bounce back from tough games or being on the losing end of series sweeps have not deterred them from their mission. Thats one thing that can’t be taught, it’s something that either a team has or a team doesn’t have.

It all started on Monday night with another masterful performance by R.A. Dickey, who has taken the National League by strom with his devistating knuckleball that has “baffled” many hitters. For his second outing in a row R.A. tossed a one hitter.

At 11-1 with a 2.00 ERA, Dickey has been arguably the best pitcher in baseball, leading the majors in almost every major pitching category.

In recent memory we have all been witness to some marvelous pitching seasons. Martinez in 99′ and Lee in 08′ just to name a few. With throwing a knuckleball and controling it the way Dickey has, the case can be made that come the end of this year, his numbers will be up there with some of the greats.

Obviously this team isn’t playing the way they have solely on the knuckleball of R.A. Dickey, but it’s a combined effort from this cast of characters that have bonded together beautifully. Whether it’s been David Wright, Scott Hairston or even in recent games the young Jordany Valdespin, the Mets are showing a unique trait that winning teams need, resiliency.

Winning on a consistant basis is so hard to do over the corse of 162 game regular season. Thats why a baseball season is not about how well you play for a week or two, but how you can recover from tough losses and series and continue to plow through and keep a positive winning attitude.

Enough isn’t said about how good of a job Terry Collins has done since he took the job as manager of the Mets. He completely changed the mindset of these players. Not accepting failure or even an average effort. From a leadership perspective, being able to get into these young players heads and getting them to play like a winner.

Obviously it’s still early in the season, it’s not even July yet, but the Mets are only 3.0 out in the division and currently hold one of the two NL Wild Card spots. For a fan base that has gone through and seen it all the last five years, it has been a sweet begining to 2012 and there’s still a lot to look forward to as we head closer to the mid-summer classic.

As the season moves deeper into the summer, it will be interesting to see how this team plays. For right now though its been a real pleasure to watch this group play night in and night out.

This weekend the Yankees come into Citi Field as the Mets look to even the score after being swept by the Bombers at Yankee Stadium eariler this month.