Starting Lineup
- Ruben Tejada, ss
- Justin Turner, 2b
- David Wright, 3b
- Lucas Duda, lf
- Marlon Byrd, rf
- Ike Davis, 1b
- Anthony Recker, c
- Juan Lagares, cf
- Shaun Marcum, rhp
Game Notes
New York collected its fourth walk-off win of the year last night. The Mets are tied for second in the majors with the Giants with their four walk-off victories. Cincinnati is first with five such wins. The Mets last three wins at home have come in walk-off fashion.
Desperate to help Ike Davis emerge from his season-long funk, Collins said he wrestled with the decision to bench his first baseman Thursday against left-hander Jeff Locke. Then Davis went ahead and came through anyway, hammering a tiebreaking double into center field in the seventh inning after entering as part of a double-switch.
Mike Baxter for the second time in three days delivered a walk-off RBI single, this time against Pittsburgh Pirates closer Jason Grilli, and the Mets won 3-2 at Citi Field on Thursday night. The Mets’ last three home wins have come in walk-off fashion.
Juan Lagares had a stellar leaping catch at the wall on a shot off the bat of Andrew McCutchen for the final out of the top of the ninth. That allowed Bobby Parnell to pick up his fourth win of the season to go with three saves. “He gets better jumps and routes to balls than Matt,” one Mets official said, contrasting Lagares with Matt den Dekker. “He makes it look easier. Matt makes up for his not-so-good jumps with his speed. But Juan is much better than people think.”
Jon Niese downplayed manager Terry Collins‘ assertion that he has been pitching with stiffness in his lower back, saying he felt “a knot” in his back after his last start, but that it did not affect him as he gave up seven runs over four innings Sunday in Atlanta.
Left-hander Pedro Feliciano has been placed on Class A St. Lucie’s disabled list with food poisoning. Feliciano missed time late last month with the issue, but returned to the mound for three more appearances before landing on the DL. He has been pitching for St. Lucie since Opening Day in an attempt to strengthen his surgically-repaired left shoulder.
The Mets are hosting Banner Day with fans of all ages parading on the field showing their homemade banners professing their love for the team tomorrow prior to the Mets-Pirates game. Edgardo Alfonzo, WFAN’s Josh Lewin, SNY’s Kevin Burkhardt, and 92.3 NOW Morning Show host Ty Bentli will serve as judges. Registration begins at 10 a.m. in the Bullpen Plaza. Banner Day was a Mets tradition from 1963 to 1996 and returned last year as part of the Mets 50th Anniversary celebration.
Game Preview
For the second time in three days, the Mets had a walk-off victory last night and for the second time in three days, the offensive hero at the end of the game was Mike Baxter with Bobby Parnell picking up the win. The Mets look to make it 2 in a row and 3 of 4 tonight as they take on the Pirates and Wandy Rodriguez behind Shaun Marcum.
Shaun Marcum has yet to have a break out game as a Mets pitcher, maybe that will change today. On the season he is 0-2 over three games and two starts while allowing 8 ER over 10 innings of work. Last season he was 1-1 against the Pirates while posting a 0.75 ERA (only 1 ER over 12.0 innings). The Pirates have the following numbers against the Pirates:
McCutchen 2-14, 2B
Jones 4-10, 2B, HR
Alvarez 4-14, 2 2B
Tabata 4-11, 2 2B
Barmes 1-11, 2B
Inge 1-8
Martin 1-8, HR
The Mets bats will try to break out vs Wandy Rodriguez tonight. You want to know how good the Mets offense was at the beginning of the season? The Mets offense is still 3rd in the National League in runs scored (even with the last two weeks). Wandy is 2-2 over 6 games and 31.1 innings with a 4.02 ERA. In his last three starts, he has allowed 13 ER in 15.1 innings of work. He was 2-0 against the Mets last year in as many games posting a 2.77 ERA. The Mets have the following numbers against him:
Byrd 7-28, 2 2B, 2 HR
Wright 7-24, 2 2B, HR
Buck 3-9, HR
Davis 0-7
Tejada 5-7, 2 2B
Turner 2-7, HR
Murphy 0-3
Let’s Go Mets!
