One long weekend into the second half of the season, and with still no relief in sight, the Mets dropped three out of four games to the Braves, after a 7-1 shelling on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball.
"Don't cry Fernando, it's not the end of the world, we're still ahead of the Nats."
Fernando Nieve started, but his appearance would be cut short when he was carted off the field in the second inning after straining his right quadriceps running out a ground ball. No word on the severity of the strain. He was replaced by Tim Redding who pitched three innings and allowed five runs (three earned) on four hits and three walks. He served up a homerun to Yunel Escobar.
Javier Vasquez was brilliant… like most pitchers the Mets face these days. The Mets could only touch him for one run as Jeff Francoeur singled in Luis Castillo for the Mets’ lone run. Vasquez picked up the win and lowered his ERA to 2.36 on the season.
Great trade by the Braves when they acquired Vasquez in the off season. Speaking of great trades, Jason Marquis became the NL’s first 12 game winner today and allowed just one run in eight innings. Another one that got away.
Elmer Dessens and Pat Misch both allowed a run each, and Brian Stokes and Bobby Parnell both pitched a scoreless inning of relief. Six Mets pitchers combined for eight walks. Maybe the Mets will smarten up and callup Jon Niese and Nelson Figueroa… or maybe not.
I’m so glad we don’t give out game balls anymore.
"Life's not fair. Churchy was so lucky he got traded."
Jerry Manuel looked like someone who wished he was a thousand miles away from this team. During an in game interview, he was asked to comment on the Fernando Nieve injury and he said, “we started the game hoping to win the game, instead I’m now just hoping to survive the game.”
I had a big gripe with Jerry by the way. After Pagan led of the game with a double, he had Castillo, who has been one of the Mets hottest hitters, bunt instead of swinging away. When your team is struggling to score runs, why would you just give an out away? The Mets failed to score.
Here’s an interesting little tidbit I read… The Mets now have lost five of nine games against the Braves, six of their past seven road games and 10 of 14 games on Sundays.
Meanwhile, the red-hot Phillies won their eighth straight and 12th game in their last 13 overall. Prized pitching prospect and unbeaten rookie J.A. Happ hurled seven shutout innings to beat the Marlins 5-0.
The Mets are now 9 1/2 games back and reside in fourth place. Good grief…
