The Mets (32-29) were able to salvage the final game of the series against the San Francisco Giants (34-27) tonight at Citi Field by a score of 5-4.
Jon Niese started for the Mets, and got off to a rough start, surrendering two runs in the opening inning which made all Mets fans, including myself, say to themselves “Here we go again.”
Nori Aoki hit a leadoff single to start the game for the Giants, which was followed by an infield single by Yonkers born Joe Panik. It was a bang bang play at first, so Terry Collins challenged the call, but the play on the field was upheld.
Angel Pagan then walked to load the bases, and the next batter, Buster Posey, got the Giants on the board first with a single to right field.
The Giants tacked on another run in the inning when Justin Maxwell grounded into a double play with the bases still loaded.
Tim Lincecum kept the Mets off the board for the first three innings. But in the fourth, Lucas Duda walked after Juan Lagares struck out, and advanced to second after Matt Duffy mishandled the ball at third which enabled Michael Cuddyer to reach first safely.
Travis d’Arnaud then hit a bloop single to right field which scored Duda from second.
Dilson Herrera walked to load the bases after d’Arnaud’s single, but Eric Campbell lined out to end the inning.
The Mets then took the lead in the fifth inning, after Jon Niese hit a leadoff double and Curtis Granderson singled to put runners on first and third with nobody out.
Juan Lagares flew out on a ball hit to right field, which was too shallow to score Niese from third, but Lucas Duda got the job done in the next at-bat, succeeding in hitting a sacrifice fly.
Michael Cuddyer then ended Tim Lincecum’s day on the very next at-bat when he hit an RBI double.
However, the Mets lead vanished in the very next inning, as after Eric Campbell made a fielding error with two out and nobody on, Brandon Crawford made him pay, launching a home run to put the Giants up 4-2.
Jon Niese would end up pitching a good game after the rough first inning in what was his best start in more than a month. His final line has him going seven innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on five hits while walking two and striking out four. He settles for a no decision.
Darrell Ceciliani pinched hit for Niese in the bottom of the seventh and hit a double, and was promptly driven in the next at-bat on a Curtis Granderson single.
The Giants threatened in the eighth inning after Angel Pagan walked and Buster Posey was hit by a pitch from Erik Goeddel, but Goeddel was able to induce a double play to end the inning.
Travis d’Arnaud, who seems to have picked up right where he left off, hit a double in the bottom of the eighth, but the Mets failed to get him across the plate, leaving the game tied at four going to the ninth inning.
Jeurys Familia came on in the ninth inning, despite it being a non-save situation, and let up a two-out single to Andrew Susac, but it wouldn’t matter as he got pinch hitter Brandon Belt to line out and end the inning.
After John Mayberry struck out to lead off the bottom of the ninth, Curtis Granderson was hit by a pitch, and advanced to second on a passed ball.
Juan Lagares then grounded out to put Granderson at third with two outs.
Sergio Romo decided to not be beat by Lucas Duda, and intentionally walked him and pitch to Michael Cuddyer instead.
That decision would prove to be costly, as Michael Cuddyer hit a bullet up the middle to score Granderson and seal the win for the Mets.
With the win, the Mets are tied with the Nationals for first place, who are losing to the Milwaukee Brewers 6-5 in the ninth inning as we speak. After the rough previous couple games, we have a chance to still be at the top of the NL East if everything breaks right tonight. 🙂
Game ball:
Michael Cuddyer gets the game ball tonight, as he went 2-for-5 and two RBI’s, including the game-winning single.
Cuddyer has been hot the last two weeks or so, going 18-for-60 (.300 BA).
On deck:
The Mets homestand continues tomorrow night, as the Atlanta Braves come into town for a weekend series. Bartolo Colon (8-4, 4.52 ERA) takes the ball for the Amazin’s and will be opposed by Alex Wood (4-3, 3.36 ERA). First pitch is at 7:10 PM.
