Johan Santana was on his game today, but Ryota Igarashi couldn’t continue the Mets winning streak nor their scoreless inning streak in a 2-0 loss to the Brewers

Game Notes

Johan Santana was dominant against the Brewers, becoming the first Mets pitcher to pitch a full 8 innings in the season up to this point. Johan allowed 0 runs on 3 hits, with 2 walks and 5 strikeouts. Johan was drawing flyball after flyball, pitching “citi-ball” and had the Brewers hitters fooled for most of the night, getting out of trouble when he needed to. Johan was popping the mitt today too, with the SNY radar guns clocking him as high as 92 – but i believe those guns were slow. Yovani Gallardo of the Brewers was equally dealing, and he was blowing fastballs by people that were only clocking at 94 MPH – he can throw in the upper 90’s fairly easily. This is another encouraging sign for the Mets pitching staff, but Johan took a no decision.

The bullpen only made it out for 3 batters, and Pedro Feliciano made sure Prince Fielder did not receive a chance to be a hero, getting him to ground out to David Wright essentially playing shortstop in a shift. Ryota Igarashi came in the face the right-handed part of the lineup and promptly gave up a hit to Ryan Braun. Corey Hart would then end Ryota’s night and the Mets win streak with a game-ending 2 run home run to left field. Why Jerry brought in Igarashi instead of K-Rod I don’t know, but thats just how the game played out.

The bats were stifled for the vast part of the day by Yovani Gallardo, who was matching Johan Santana inning-for-inning. The Mets didn’t draw their first walk until the 9th inning. There isn’t much to write about the bats. Rod Barajas went 2-3 with 2 singles, and Johan Santana went 2-3 with a double in the 8th that almost started a rally but Jose Reyes was called out on strike 3.

Ike Davis, David Wright and Angel Pagan went 0-10 with 5 strikeouts and a walk

Ike Davis struck out twice, and his at-bat in the 9th he looked every bit the rookie, swinging way-ahead of 2 curveballs in the dirt from Gallardo.

The Mets were called out looking on about 5 of the 7 strikeouts, with Angel Pagan nearly getting kicked out for arguing a called strike three in the 8th.

Turning Point

When Johan Santana was pulled. He was only at 105 pitches, his at-bat was already cleared and he was set to face lefty Prince Fielder. Johan was locked in ALL game and why he would be pulled is beyond me.

Game Ball

Johan Santana, in shades of 2008, taking a no decision for a lights-out performance when the Mets offense just couldn’t get anything going

Up Next

The Mets will send bullpen workhorse Fernando Nieve to the mound for his first start of 2010. He will be opposing Brewers lefty Manny Parra. The Mets have faired very well against lefty pitchers so lets hope for a continuation. Game time is 7:10 PM