After a well needed day of rest, the Mets look to bounce back after getting swept and get a win against the Boston Red Sox on the road. The Mets will send out their ace Johan Santana who is 5-2 with a 1.36 ERA. Boston will also bring out their ace as well, Daisuke Matsuzaka is 0-1 with a 12.79 ERA.
Dice-K will return to the mound for his first start in five weeks after being on the disabled list with right arm fatigue since April 15.
Boston is 10-8 all-time against the Mets, sweeping a three-game series in the last meeting June 27-29, 2006. Santana hasn’t fared well at Fenway either, going 1-3 with a 6.89 ERA in three starts and four total appearances, but has not pitched there since 2006 while with the Twins.
Mets have lost 4 straight games and are 9-11 on the road this season while Boston is 17-4 at home.
“We knew at the start of this trip that it would be a tough one and would be a big test for us,” Mets third baseman David Wright said. “We started out good, but then we struggled. But we can’t feel sorry for ourselves.”
Pitching
First run, in the second, homerun from Jason Varitek.
Second run, in the fourth, walk to Bay, base hit for Lowell, VaritekPitchers IP safe at second on error by Martinez, Drew and Lowell scored.
Santana hits Youkilis on the elbow with a pitch, the two exchange some words.
| Pitchers | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | PC-ST | ERA |
| J Santana (W, 6-2) | 7.0 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 118-79 | 1.50 |
| R Parnell (H, 8) | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11-7 | 1.86 |
| F Rodriguez (S, 12) | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12-7 | 0.87 |
| Totals | 9.0 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 141-93 |
Hitting
The Mets first run came in the second, Sheffield hits career homerun # 502.
Second run came in the fourth, Wright singled to center, Beltran scored, Sheffield to second.
Third run came in fourth, Santos singled to left, Sheffield scored, Reed to second.
Fourth run came in the fourth, Ramirez singles, Santos to second, Reed scores.
Fifth run came in the seventh, Pagan singled to center, Castillo scored.
1. Murphy: 0-3 .256
2. Church: 0-2 .272
a- Pagan: 1-1 .400
3. Beltran: 1-4 .367
4. Sheffield: 1-3 .257
5. Wright: 1-3 .362
6. Reed: 1-4 .324
7. Santos: 1-4 .254
8. Martinez: 1-4 .063
9. Castillo: 1-4 .278
a- Pagan came in for defense. Stayed in game.
HR: Sheffield (3)
RBI: Sheffield (9), Wright (29), Santos (13), Ramirez (2), Pagan (1)
R: Sheffield 2 (17,18), Beltran (29), Reed (3), Wright (29)
2B: Beltran (14)
Sac: Pagan, Murphy
K: Murphy (12), Church (18), Castillo (13), Sheffield (14), Santos (13), Martinez (4)
BB: Sheffield (16), Murphy (14), Wright (28)
LOB: Beltran-1, Sheffield-2, Reed-3, Santos-2, Martinez-1, Castillo-2. Total-11
Baserunning/Fielding
SB: Pagan (2)
CS: Reed (1)
DP: 1 (Castillo-Martinez-Murphy).
E: Wright (7), Martinez 2 (3,4)
Additional Info
This day in Mets history: Mets trade three of their players to Florida for Mike Piazza.
Carlos Beltran played DH tonight because of knee soreness. Fun, fun.
Ryan Church was taken out of the game in the fourth, sore right hamstring. Good times.
Darrel Strawberry and Bobby Ojeda also sign the Wall of Mets.
Total names: Gooden, Mookie, Strawberry, Ojeda.
David Wright hit streak: 13 games.
David Wright streak for gotten on safely 3-or-more times in a game ends at 7 games.
Jacob Ellsbury hit streak: 17 games.
Bobby Parnell reaches 100 MPH.
Ramon Martinez gets his first hit this season.
Johan Santana threw a season high 118 pitches.
Mets now have 35 errors of the season. 11 of them while Santana was pitching.
NL East take 3 out of 5 of the first games in the inter-league series.
Phillies 7, Yankees 3.
Mets 5, Red Sox 3.
Orioles 4, Nationals 2.
Blue Jays 0, Braves 1.
Rays 15, Marlins 2.
Game Ball
Mets: Sheffield (for finally ending Mets no-homerun streak)
Santana (great pitching)
Game ends: 10:02 P.M.
Up Next
Mike Pelfrey (4-1, 4.61) will face the Red Sox for the first time of his career. He will go up against Josh Beckett (4-2, 5.85) in game two of this inter league series at Fenway Park.
