The Mets got help from technology…again, as they took game one against the Nationals at home. The Mets look to keep on a winning streak as Livan Hernandez looks to get his fourth win as he is 3-1 with a 4.93 ERA. The Mets will go up against the Nationals’ rookie pitcher Craig Stammen who is 0-0 with a 5.68 ERA. Hernandez lost his first game against the Nationals in 2006, but since then he’s posted a 3.34 ERA while winning five straight starts against them.

Today’s Quote

“I just want to make sure that everything is going to be fine and it’s not going to get worse,” Beltran said. “Mentally I know something is wrong.” (Beltran talking about having an MRI on his knee Tuesday)

Pitching

First run: 7th inning, Dunn homered to left.

Pitchers IP  H  R ER BB SO HR PC-ST ERA
L Hernandez (W, 4-1) 9.0 9 1 1 1 6 1 127-83 4.28
Totals 9.0 9 1 1 1 6 1 127-83

Hitting

First run: 2nd inning, R-Martinez doubled to right center, Santos scored.
Second run: 3rd inning, Tatis singled to shallow center, Pagan scored, Castillo to third, Sheffield to second.
Third run: 3rd inning, Martinez grounded into fielder’s choice to first, Castillo scored, Tatis out at second, Sheffield to third.
Fourth, fifth, sixth run: 7th inning, Sheffield homered to left, Castillo and Wright scored

1. Pagan: 2-4   .296
2. Castillo: 1-3   .283
3. Wright: 2-4   .349
4. Sheffield: 2-3   .291
   a– Reed: 0-0   .304
5. Tatis: 1-3   .278
6. F-Martinez: 0-3   .000
7. Santos: 1-4   .268
8. R-Martinez: 1-4   .100
9. Hernandez: 0-4   .111

a– Reed came in for defense in ninth inning.

HR: Sheffield (5)
RBI: R-Martinez (2), Tatis (10), F-Martinez (1), Sheffield 3 (15,16,17)
R: Santos (10), Pagan (4), Castillo 2 (24,25), Wright (30), Sheffield (22) 
2B: Santos (4), R-Martinez (1)
K: F-Martinez 2 (1,2), Wright 2 (45,46), Pagan (8)
BB: Castillo 2 (18,19), Sheffield (20), Pagan (5)
HBP: F-Martinez, Tatis

Baserunning/Fielding

SB: Wright (11), Pagan (4)
DP: 3 (Castillo-Martinez-Tatis), (2 Martinez-Castillo-Tatis)

Additional Info

Jose Reyes and Ryan Church were sent to the 15-day DL.

Mets brought up top prospect Fernando Martinez who Made his major league debut.

Mets purchased 31-year-old shortstop Wilson Valdez from the Indians.

John Franco will represent the Mets in the 2009 Amateur draft.

Center fielder Carlos Beltran (tibia) is already expected to miss the next two games.

Alex Cora will delay surgery until after the season, he will be back next week.

Livan Hernandez is the first Mets starting pitcher to go into the 8th or 9th inning.

He tossed the first complete game of 2009 for the Mets.

1,000 career hit for Adam Dunn.

Oliver Perez‘s start in AAA-Buffalo: 4.1 innings, 1 run, 3 hits, 5 walks, 5 strikeouts, 2.08 ERA.

Aflac trivia question: Who is the only player to win 3 batting titles and retire batting under .300?
Aflac trivia answer: Carl Yastrzemski (.286)

Game Ball

Livan Hernandez (complete game victory)

Game ends: 9:51 P.M.

Up Next

Johan Santana (6-2, 1.50) will go up against rookie pitcher Jordan Zimmerman (2-1, 5.71) for the sweep at CitiField.